In a pivotal turn of events, sources from TV9 Marathi suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to assert its dominance in seat allocations for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections within the Grand Alliance. The developments come after Union Home Minister Amit Shah engaged with party activists during a meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur, where strategic discussions were held to solidify the BJP’s position in both Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.
The BJP’s meticulous micro-planning aims to enhance its performance in the assembly elections, especially after a thorough review of assembly-wise outcomes from the Lok Sabha elections. The party appears to have the upper hand regarding seat distribution, with reports indicating that it plans to contest between 155 to 160 seats, leaving the remaining seats for its allies. Notably, the BJP has expressed that it will not contest fewer than 150 seats, ensuring a significant presence in the electoral battle.
Chaotic Night of Discussions
Late into the night, the atmosphere was charged with discussions regarding seat allocations, attended by key figures including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Reports reveal that BJP’s approach includes leaving some quota seats for smaller parties, further complicating the dynamics of the alliance.
During the meeting, a clear directive emerged that the BJP is aiming to take the lion’s share of seats, which raises the stakes for its allies. If the BJP claims 155 seats, it implies that the Shinde and Ajit Pawar factions collectively will be vying for 133 seats. Presently, the Shinde group and the Dada group, which includes independents and MLAs from other parties, hold 94 MLAs combined. The challenge now lies in the intricate seat distribution formula that needs to be agreed upon for the 39 remaining seats.
The Road Ahead
A subsequent meeting involving Shinde, Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar is expected to address the pressing issue of how to divide the available seats among the allied parties. The focus will be on selecting candidates with a strong potential for election victory, as all parties aim to rectify past shortcomings observed in the Lok Sabha elections.
As the political landscape evolves, the final picture of seat allocations will soon emerge, providing clarity on the collaborative efforts of the Grand Alliance ahead of the critical elections. The forthcoming decisions will undoubtedly shape the political dynamics in Maharashtra, with the BJP seemingly poised to play a dominant role in the Legislative Assembly elections.