Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan confirmed that seat-sharing talks with NCP and other smaller parties was progressing.
The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gave the finishing touches to a seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, and a formal announcement is likely to be made in mid-February in the presence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the two parties met on Friday with their aspirant candidates for various Lok Sabha constituencies. "We have more or less finalised a primary list of probable candidates for Lok Sabha seats. We have demanded that both parties get 24 seats each in Maharashtra. As of now, an agreement has been reached for 40 out of the state's 48 seats, while discussion on the remaining eight will take place on Sunday. We are hoping that the Congress will understand our growing strength in Maharashtra and concede an equal number of seats to us," Malik said.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan confirmed that seat-sharing talks with NCP and other smaller parties was progressing. "Now, it's decided that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be fought jointly with the NCP and smaller allies in Maharashtra. Seat-sharing issues will also be sorted out in these meetings," he said.
Chavan said that there was no question of conceding to NCP's demand of equal seats. "Congress is the oldest political party and it has its own solid network in every nook and corner in the state and country. I am confident we'll find an amicable solution," he added.
Maharashtra has the second largest representation in the Lok Sabha, only after Uttar Pradesh, meaning all parties are concentrating big on the state. In 2014, the Congress was decimated and could win just two seats, while the NCP managed five though it had contested fewer seats than the Congress.
"Even in the recent bypolls, the NCP had won the Gondia-Bhandara seat, defeating the BJP candidate, while Congress dismally lost Palghar to the BJP. So, NCP has the upper hand in seat-sharing meeting. And Congress president Rahul Gandhi has also in principle agreed to give a free hand to NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Maharashtra, in order to defeat the BJP," said a senior NCP leader, requesting anonymity.
A senior Congress leader, on the other hand, insisted that the party will not agree to an equal seat-sharing formula. "We may concede one additional seat, but won't agree to a 50:50 formula. We also have to adjust Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatan leader Raju Shetti, Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, etc. Besides, once the election code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls is announced, many things will be crystal clear. Also, many Shiv Sena and BJP leaders also want to join the secular forces, and they too expect tickets and government formation," the Congress leader said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}