Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (PTI/File)
This will mark Shinde’s first state assembly election after he won the battle for the Shiv Sena party name and symbol.
The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has presented a detailed proposal to the BJP high command, requesting 107 seats for the upcoming state assembly elections. Sources reveal that the Mahayuti, the alliance between BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, will contest the elections under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership.
This will mark Shinde’s first state assembly election after he won the battle for the Shiv Sena party name and symbol. The election is viewed as a matter of prestige for Shinde, who aims to demonstrate that his faction represents the true legacy of the late Balasaheb Thackeray.
The proposal submitted by Shinde includes a detailed analysis of the 107 seats, highlighting the caste dynamics of each constituency. The report also evaluates the relative strength of Shiv Sena candidates compared to those of the alliance partners. Additionally, Shinde’s proposal outlines potential candidates who should receive tickets if the party manages to secure these seats in the ongoing negotiations with the BJP.
Insiders familiar with the negotiations say that Shinde is particularly focused on securing the maximum number of seats in Mumbai, Thane, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), areas traditionally considered Shiv Sena strongholds. Shinde’s faction is keen to contest in constituencies where the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to field candidates. This strategy is seen as a way to establish the Shinde faction’s dominance in areas central to Shiv Sena’s political identity.
The BJP, as the major player in the Mahayuti alliance, is reported to be in favor of a direct contest between the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the UBT faction. According to sources, there is a possibility that the BJP may even exchange a few seats with Shinde’s Shiv Sena to facilitate this head-to-head competition.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s state leadership has communicated to Home Minister Amit Shah, who was recently in Mumbai for the Ganpati festival, that the party aims to contest 160 seats in the upcoming elections. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP contested 122 seats and won 105, but failed to form the government after Uddhav Thackeray’s faction allied with Congress and NCP.
This time, the BJP is aiming higher, although party insiders expect that after negotiations, they will secure around 130-140 seats, leaving 80-90 for Shinde’s Shiv Sena and 50-60 for Ajit Pawar’s NCP.
During his Mumbai visit, Amit Shah urged Mahayuti leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue and refrain from public criticism of each other. He stressed the importance of maintaining unity within the alliance ahead of the elections. Sources suggest that the seat-sharing talks are progressing and are expected to be finalised in the coming weeks. Leaders within the alliance are confident that an agreement will be reached soon, ensuring a strong electoral front.
