BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule recently disclosed that over 90% of the seat-sharing talks within Mahayuti had reached a consensus, highlighting an agreement on candidate distribution among the three main allies. The BJP, traditionally a major force in the alliance, is projected to field candidates in approximately 140-150 seats. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde is likely to contend for around 80 seats, with Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction expected to secure roughly 55 constituencies. Bawankule anticipates the remaining 12 seats will be finalized in the coming days, with only a few sensitive areas still under discussion.
In the opposition camp, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, which includes the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (original faction), is also navigating seat-sharing negotiations. The Congress, buoyed by its performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls, is pushing for a significant allocation of around 115 seats. However, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena is reportedly aiming for an equitable split, targeting an allotment close to 110 seats. Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction is expected to contest about 80-85 seats, accounting for smaller allies such as left-wing groups and the Samajwadi Party, which have shown interest in around 40 constituencies.