Maharashtra seat-sharing deal: Uddhav Thackeray’s Sena to contest 21 seats, Congress 17, NCP 10

MVA in Maharashtra

Ending days of speculation regarding the seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra, the Maha Vikas Aghadi has finalized the pact with Shiv Sena (UBT) faction contesting on 21 seats, NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction on 10 seats and Congress on 17 seats.

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh (80). NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and state Congress president Nana Patole announced the poll pact for the 48 parliamentary seats in the state at a press conference after weeks of negotiations. The Lok Sabha polls will be held in the state in five phases from April 19 to May 20

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had won 23  seats in the state, its alliance partner Shiv Sena (which was then undivided) had won 18 seats, undivided NCP had won four while Congress and AIMIM had won a seat each. An independent candidate had won one seat.