Mahayuti reaches seat-sharing deal on 260 seats, Amit Shah may announce tomorrow

Maharashtra polls: Of the 260 Assembly seats, the BJP is likely to contest on 142 seats, Shiv Sena 66 and NCP 52, sources said. Talks on the remaining 28 seats are on due to claims and counter-claims between the allies.

The ruling Mahayuti has reached an agreement to contest 260 Assembly seats in Maharashtra for the upcoming Assembly polls and talks are on for the remaining 28, sources told India Today TV. The alliance comprises the BJP, the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's NCP faction.

The seat-sharing deal is likely to be finalised by tonight and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will come to Mumbai on Sunday and participate in a joint press conference, they said.

Of the 260 Assembly seats, decks have been cleared for the BJP to contest on 142 seats, 66 for Shiv Sena and 52 for NCP, sources said. Talks on the remaining 28 Assembly seats are ongoing due to claims and counter-claims between the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP.

Assembly election in Maharashtra will be held on November 20, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23.

Earlier on Thursday, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) arrived at a consensus on 200 Assembly seats in Maharashtra for the Assembly polls, news agency PTI reported.

The MVA comprises the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and the NCP helmed by Sharad Pawar. This will be the first Assembly election in the state after the Shiv Sena and NCP parties split in June 2022 and July 2023, respectively.

On Friday, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said there was a stalemate in the MVA over 25 to 30 Assembly seats, and the party's state unit will abide by any decision its high command takes on it, PTI reported.

"There are about 48 seats in the Shiv Sena (UBT) list and we (Congress) have given up our claim on 18 of them. There are 25 to 30 seats where there is a dispute. We have informed our party high command about it, and we will abide by whatever decision our leadership takes on this," he said.

(with inputs from PTI)