Mumbai : In a strategic move ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has geared up to contest 29 to 30 seats, leaving 13 to 14 seats for its allies Shiv Sena (Shinde group) and five seats for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). However, tensions arise as both allies demand more seats, prompting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to stand firm on the allocation.
A meeting convened by Shah with senior leaders of Shiv Sena and NCP on Tuesday night aimed to address the seat distribution issue. Despite demands from Shiv Sena for 18 to 20 seats and NCP for 10 to 12 seats, BJP is inclined to allocate only one seat apart from the guaranteed 13 MP seats from the Shinde faction. Notably, among the MPs associated with the Thackeray group, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat is designated for Union Minister Narayan Rane, while the South Mumbai seat, currently held by Vidhan Sabha Speaker Adv. BJP, seeks a replacement for Rahul Narvekar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
NCP is expected to secure four to five seats, considering its performance in the last elections where it clinched victories in Baramati, Shirur, Satara, and Raigad. However, the final decision on seat allocation rests with BJP party leaders, anticipated to be announced by Saturday. The meeting scheduled in Delhi on Saturday is expected to play a pivotal role in finalizing the seat distribution, with Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar likely to be summoned to New Delhi for deliberations.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with other state leaders, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening for discussions with central leaders. The seat allocation for Mahayuti, the grand alliance, is slated to be finalized by March 9, followed by a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board to announce the candidates for BJP seats.
However, concerns loom over potential rebellion within the party ranks, as pressure mounts on Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to secure more seats. The lack of accommodation for experienced MPs or influential leaders could lead to defections back to Thackeray or Sharad Pawar's factions, prompting strategizing to avert such scenarios.
As the Lok Sabha election landscape evolves, stay tuned for updates on seat allocations and electoral strategies.