Congress-NCP deal for 40 of 48 Maharashtra Lok Sabha seats

The Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress have clinched seat-sharing for 2019 Lok Sabha elections in 40 out of 48 Maharashtra seats. However, the bone of contention remains over other eight seats.

According to an NCP leader, the seats under dispute are Nandurbar, Raver, Yawatmal-Wasim, Jalna, Aurangabad, Pune, Ahmednagar and Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. Senior NCP leader and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the discussion between the Congress and other smaller parties are still on. "We will very soon come out with an amicable formula on remaining eight seats," Pawar said.

NCP is demanding equal numbers of seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. However, the Congress refused to concede any additional seat to NCP. In 2014, the Congress won two seats after contesting 26 seats while NCP won five seats after contested 22 seats. NCP leaders said their current strength is more than the Congress so they deserve at least equal numbers of seats in general elections.

Pawar said that they are ready to accommodate the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan leader Raju Shetti, MP, and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar in their respective Lok Sabha seats.

Ajit Pawar also clarified that his son Parth Pawar's candidacy from Maval Lok Sabha seat has not been yet finalised. "We will first finalise the seat-sharing with the Congress and other parties. Then, the internal ticket distribution subject will be taken up at our party forum. We are hopeful to defeat the BJP led government in centre and state as well," Pawar added.