Maharashtra Elections: Congress Pushes for Seat Distribution Based on Poll Success

In the lead-up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, the Congress party is seeking a revised seat-sharing formula within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, citing its superior performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress won 13 of the 17 seats it contested, while its allies, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharad Pawar), secured fewer seats, prompting Congress to demand a larger share of the 288 assembly seats.

Internal discussions reveal that Congress is proposing to contest between 115 and 120 seats. The party is also vying for the 23 constituencies where it narrowly lost in the 2019 elections, a point of debate among the alliance partners. Congress argues that its success rate in the Lok Sabha polls gives it a stronger claim to more constituencies.

Negotiations over seat allocation are ongoing, with each party trying to assert its influence. This distribution will also play a key role in determining the next chief ministerial candidate if the alliance wins. With elections looming in November, party leaders are under pressure to reach a consensus on the seat-sharing formula before Dussehra.