Congress, NCP's 2019 Lok Sabha seat sharing gets stuck over 10 seats

While the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have almost finalised seat sharing for 38 Lok Sabha seats, 10 seats have turned to be the bone of contention for 2019 general elections.

As per directions of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, both the parties should finalise the seat-sharing by end of October. "Ten seats of Lok Sabha are turning to be a major obstacle in finalising seat sharing. These seats are mainly of Akola, Palghar, Pune, Yavatmal, Hatkalangale, Palghar, Ahmadnagar, Dhule and Nandurbar. Most of the seats will be evenly distributed. In most places, the Congress network has weakened, while the NCP has emerged as the strongest party in few places. So as per the presence of cadre, elected local representatives and capacity of candidates, the seat swapping will be done," said senior Congress leader on requested anonymity.

The NCP has demanded the equal number of Lok Sabha seats in the state, though the Congress is reluctant to cede three more seats as per the latter's demand. In 2014, the Congress won two seats against the 26 seats it contested, while the NCP won five out of 21 contested seats.

Sources said that NCP is demanding Pune, Yavatmal, Aurangabad, Dhule and Nandurbar seats while the Congress wants Ahmadnagar and Jalgaon. "It will take few more weeks to finalise these seat sharing. Once it is finalised, Sharad Pawar and Rahul Gandhi will take a final call on it," said Congress leader requested anonymity.