With nominations for the Maharashtra Assembly elections coming to an end on Tuesday, one thing has become clear: both the alliances formed in Maharashtra are impractical. Both Maha Vikas Aghadi and Mahayuti are groups of parties with different views that have come together for the lust of power. This is why the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra has candidates from two parties each in at least seven assembly constituencies. The same situation has also happened with Mahayuti. In this alliance, not even a party with cadres like the BJP could take difficult decisions. At least five seats here also face a situation similar to that of the MVA. Both alliances stated that this issue will be resolved in the coming days. The last date to withdraw the nomination is November 4. But the way internal politics is developing in both alliances, it is certain that after winning the elections new alliances will emerge.
Of the 288 assembly seats, the Mahayuti parties have divided 284 seats among themselves and left four seats for smaller allies. Among these seats, the BJP will contest a maximum of 152 seats, followed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena with 80 seats and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party won only 52 seats. Similarly, the Congress managed to secure 101 seats in the MVA. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest on 96 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) on 87 seats. The MVA has left two seats for the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the CPI (M). At one point it seemed that the MVA seats would be divided equally between the Congress, the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT). But Congress and Shiv Sena UBT negotiated well.
Contradiction in Mahavikas Aghadi
The way Congress, Shiv Sena and UBT are aggressive towards each other in Mahavikas Aghadi is not hidden from anyone from the beginning. The only truth is that they are tolerating each other to win the elections. That is why both parties are at loggerheads in Miraj (Sangli district), Solapur South, Pandharpur and Sangola (Solapur district), Paranda (Dharashiv district), Digras (Yavatmal district) and Dharavi (Mumbai). In these areas, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates have filed nominations for four seats. Except Dharavi, all these seats are currently held by Mahayuti candidates. Ramesh Chennithala, head of the All India Congress Committee in Maharashtra, says there will be no friendly fight. If our colleagues have submitted nominations for some positions, it will be resolved in the coming days.
Last week, seat sharing talks stalled due to differences between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress. Both parties subsequently sought Pawar’s intervention, following which the opposition alliance reached a preliminary agreement on 255 seats. What you have to think about is that when there are so many difficulties in sharing seats, what can be expected if this alliance forms the government? When there is such a great distance, efforts to form a separate alliance can also begin after the elections.
fight in great alliance
Even within the ruling alliance, there are mutual conflicts in Mankhurd-Shivajinagar (Mumbai), Purandar (Pune), Morshi (Amravati), Dindori ST-Reserved (Nashik district) and Ashti (Beed district). But the most talked about is Mankhurd-Shivajinagar, from where the NCP fielded former minister Nawab Malik. Shiv Sena has already fielded a candidate here. Obviously, there will be pressure on the BJP for Shinde to favor the Shiv Sena candidate here. But the way Ajit Pawar has given the symbol to Nawab Malik at the last moment despite opposition from the BJP, it seems that this alliance is not going to last long. SP state president Abu Azmi won this seat in the last three elections. In Purandar, Shiv Sena and NCP candidates face off, where Vijay Shivtare got the Shiv Sena ticket and Ajit Pawar fielded Sambhaji.
However, even for Mahayuti, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that differences over these seats will be resolved in the coming days. But from the way there is opposition within the BJP regarding Nawab Malik and his daughter, it seems clear that two factions have formed in the party, Ashish Shelar and Kirit Soumaiya have openly opposed Nawab Malik.
Possibilities of a new alliance after the elections
The kind of picture that is emerging in Maharashtra seems to indicate that no alliance will win an absolute majority. Obviously, in such a situation, the haggling will begin once again. Many parties will break up and disintegrate. The way the atmosphere is being created in the BJP regarding Ajit Pawar, the party would like to avoid him. Similarly, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) also lack credibility with each other. The local Congress unit did not want to support the Shiv Sena at all. As in 2004, many parties that were not in the UPA earlier also joined the UPA at the Centre. A similar possibility can be raised for Maharashtra.
