Congress Announces First List of 45 Candidates for Maharashtra Assembly Election
The Congress party has revealed its initial lineup of 48 candidates for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections. This announcement came a day after the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition finalized its seat-sharing arrangement, setting the stage for the polls. The first list from Congress includes 25 incumbent legislators and encompasses seats where there are no disputes or controversies over candidacies. The major names featured are state president Nana Patole, contesting from Sakoli, Legislative Party leader Balasaheb Thorat from Sangamner, and Opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar from Bramhapuri. Other prominent figures include former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, representing Karad South, and Congress Working Committee member Naseem Khan, contesting from Chandivali.
For several weeks, the Congress has engaged in extensive negotiations with its MVA partners, especially Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT, aiming for a favorable seat distribution. The party was pushing for 125 seats out of the total 288, while Shiv Sena proposed an even 100 seats for themselves. In these discussions, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Sharad Pawar, also played a significant role, with a suggestion that the NCP should get 88 seats. As time was running out for finalizing candidates, Pawar intervened, proposing a 85-85-85 formula for seat distribution, which aimed to balance demands across the three key parties of the MVA.
The deal saw 85 seats allocated each to the Congress, Shiv Sena UBT, and NCP, while the remaining seats would be reserved for smaller allies in the alliance. If any seats remained undistributed, they would be divided among the main partners. The agreement on 270 out of the 288 seats was announced at a press conference, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut confirming the consensus. He also mentioned that discussions for the remaining seats were still ongoing and that the coalition would include smaller parties like the Samajwadi Party, the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, and the Aam Aadmi Party. The coalition’s primary aim is to present a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Maharashtra.
The upcoming elections, set for November 20, will determine the next government for the 288-member assembly, with results announced on November 23. The current assembly’s term ends on November 26. The announcement of the candidate list marks the Congress’s strategic move to gear up its campaign and solidify its electoral base, particularly after a better-than-expected showing in the recent Lok Sabha polls, which bolstered its confidence in securing a significant number of victories in the state.
Despite the progress in reaching an agreement, the seat-sharing talks were far from smooth. Tensions surfaced as the Congress and its allies aimed to maximize their seat quotas, leading to rounds of negotiations and compromises. The Congress, buoyed by a more favorable political climate, was determined to contest as many seats as possible. On the other hand, the Shiv Sena UBT, having a stronghold in several regions, was equally adamant about retaining its traditional constituencies. The NCP’s role was pivotal in bridging the gap between the Congress and Shiv Sena, as Pawar’s mediation led to the formulation of the 85-seat formula.
The MVA’s strategy reflects a careful calculation aimed at harnessing the strengths of its constituent parties while accommodating the interests of smaller partners. The inclusion of regional and left-leaning parties demonstrates an effort to consolidate support across diverse voter segments. As the election date approaches, all eyes will be on how well the coalition partners can maintain unity and mobilize their voter bases. The MVA’s ability to present a coherent alternative to the ruling alliance will be critical in determining the outcome of this high-stakes electoral battle in Maharashtra.