“Seat-sharing talks have been completed,” says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut

New Delhi [India], August 9 (ANI): Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Election, which is scheduled later this year, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that the seat-sharing talks within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance have been completed.

He said, “The seat-sharing talks have been completed…There is no difference of opinion between the parties over seat sharing.

“We have to remove the unconstitutional, illegal Maharashtra government from power in a democratic manner,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, August 7, former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief, Uddhav Thackeray met Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi. Uddhav was accompanied by his son, Aditya Thackeray, and the duo met Congress top brass in New Delhi.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Congress MP KC Venugopal were also present at the meeting.

On August 3, Sharad Pawar met Maharashtra CM Shinde at Varsha Bungalow and discussed the issues of the Maratha reservation, amongst others.

Maha Vikas Aghadi parties are bracing for the upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra. Congress also held a meeting of its state leaders on August 4.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Deputy Leader and Spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam on Tuesday criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief, Uddhav Thackeray, claiming that he is bowing to the Congress High Command in Delhi purely out of a desire for power.

Speaking at a press conference held at Balasaheb Bhavan, he said, “Uddhav Thackeray’s current visit to Delhi exemplifies his helplessness.

“He mentioned that despite the improbability of their government forming, leaders such as Nana Patole, Balasaheb Thorat, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh, and Aaditya Thackeray are all vying for the top spot. “Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Delhi is an attempt to position himself as the chief contender for the Chief Ministership within the MVA,” he said.

However, Nirupam pointed out that Sharad Pawar is unlikely to endorse Uddhav Thackeray for the role, leading Thackeray to seek support from other leaders within the INDIA Alliance to exert pressure on Pawar. The state is likely to go to poll for the 288-member legislative assembly later this year, as the tenure of the current government ends in 2024.

However, the Election Commission has yet to announce the dates. The BJP dipped to nine seats in Maharashtra against 23 in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The vote share stood at 26.18 per cent. The Congress, on the other hand, marginally improved its seat share by securing 13 seats in the state. The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won seven and one seats respectively, taking the total tally of the NDA to 17. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) got nine seats while the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar won eight seats.