’Congress our ally but…’: Sanjay Raut on ’incapable’ leaders and seat-sharing challenges within INDIA bloc

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections on November 20, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, on Friday, said he will speak to Rahul Gandhi, to finalise the seat sharing for Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in Maharashtra ahead of the Assembly elections. The leader said there were many seats on which decisions were pending.

Speaking of leaders who he says are not capable of taking decisions, Sanjay Raut said, “They have to send the list to Delhi again and again. Now that time has passed. We want this decision to be taken as soon as possible.” He said, “Most of the leaders of Maharashtra are not capable of taking decisions.”

On Thursday, the three Maha Vikas Aghadi allies: Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Nationalist Congress Party (SP) arrived at a consensus on 200 assembly seats, out of the total 288 seats in Maharashtra. The Congress is looking to contest 110-120 seats, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) wants 90-100 and NCP (SP) is eyeing around 80 seats.

‘No major difference of opinion’

Sanjay Raut also said that while there is “no major difference of opinion between NCP and Shiv Sena, not even in Congress,” there were still some seats which all the three allies wanted to claim. The leader added that Nana Patole, the Congress President in Maharashtra was an ally, and that the seat sharing deadlock would be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Atul Londhe Patil remained optimistic about MVA’s seat sharing formula, stating that a meeting has been schduled for Friday at 1pm. “ Party high command and our leader Rahul Gandhi will resolve the issues on the remaining seats soon… Removing the BJP from power in Maharashtra is essential for the benefit of the state and we will do it…” Patil was quoted as saying by ANI.

The Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) is fighting against the ruling Shinde led Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NCP’s Mahayuti alliance. 

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 marks the first polls in the state after the Shiv Sena and NCP parties split in June 2022 and July 2023 respectively.

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