Faultlines appear in Maharashtra NDA as BJP, allies squabble over seats

The BJP may have succeeded in causing a split in both Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra, but the party is now having a tough time reaching a seat-sharing arrangement with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Sena faction and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s NCP with each of them pushing for larger share of seats than what the BJP is offering them.

According to sources, BJP wants to contest 30 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, leaving 12 for Shinde's Shiv Sena and 6 for Ajit's NCP. However, the party’s allies are yet to agree on this formula. Interestingly, the unease is also growing within the BJP as the party leaders are seeking a higher seat share in view of the NDA setting a target of winning 45-plus seats in the state. This is precisely the reason why the BJP’s first list of 195 candidates didn’t find any mention of Maharashtra.

All eyes on Shah’s visit

Amid these difference, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reaching Maharashtra on Tuesday and there are reports that he may hold a meeting with CM Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis during his visit. As per media reports, Shah will make an effort to iron out the differences between the NDA constituents, paving the way for an amicable solution.

The Shinde faction has been demanding 22 of Maharashtra 48 seats, up from its demand to contest in 18 constituencies just last week, but the BJP, which has emerged as a dominant player in the state over the last few years, is not ready to accommodate them. Moreover, the addition of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP has further complicated the issue as they also remain firm on their demand for 10 seats.

At present, the Shinde Sena has 13 Lok Sabha MPs and the demand for 22 seats appears to be a pressure tactic by the party to stake claim to its fair share on the discussion table. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP contested 25 seats and emerged victorious on 23 while the undivided Shiv Sena fought election on 23 seats and won 18 of them, taking the NDA’s tally in the state to 41.

The Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena may have the party’s name and symbol, but the BJP doesn’t believe that it would be able to repeat its 2019 performance of 18 seats. This is because while the Shinde camp has attracted a majority of MLAs and MPs, the grass-root cadre, barring few pockets, are largely with Uddhav Thackeray.

Ajit to hold review meet

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar is planning to conduct a review of nearly 16 Lok Sabha seats amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state.

“The review meeting organised by Ajit Pawar will be attended by all the senior leaders and office-bearers of the party from concerned constituencies,” NCP (Ajit Pawar) spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare said. The Ajit Pawar camp is determined to contest at least 10 out of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats, including Dharashiv, Parbhani, Buldhana, Gadchiroli, Madha, Hingoli, Baramati, Shirur, Satara, and Raigad in the upcoming elections, said sources.

Though the BJP has officially declined to acknowledge any differences with its allies over seat-sharing arrangement, sources said there are at least six to seven seats across the state where the BJP is locked in a turf war with the Shinde Sena and the Ajit-led NCP. The seats that are witnessing dispute among the allies include Madha, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurga, Maval, Shirur, Raigad, Mumbai Northwest, Palghar, Sambhaji Nagar, Parbhani, Yavatmal, Shirdi, and Gadchiroli.

Rift out in the open

These differences are now coming out in the open with the leaders of all three parties publically laying claims on various seats. Senior NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Ramraje Nimbalkar recently staked his claim on the Madha Lok Sabha seat which is currently held by BJP’s Ranjit Naik Nimbalkar. In 2009, Sharad Pawar had contested and emerged victorious from Madha seat which was once considered an NCP bastion.

Similarly, following Union Minister Narayan Rane's claim over Ratnagiri-Sindhudurga seat, Shinde Sena’s Ramdas Kadam hit back at the BJP, wondering if they want to eliminate every party ahead of the elections.

Reacting to Kadam’s remark, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said every party has the right to lay claim over their seats, but the final decision will be taken after discussions between state and central leadership.