MVA says discussions complete on all 48 seats in Maharashtra

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut clarifies MVA seat-sharing discussions, denies VBA demands for 27 Lok Sabha seats.

Stating that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had completed discussion on all 48 Lok Sabha seats, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday reiterated there were no differences within the MVA partners, including Prakash Ambedkar’s Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi while clarifying the MVA had received no proposal from Mr. Ambedkar’s party to field Maratha quota Manoj Jarange-Patil from the Jalna Sabha seat.

Mr. Raut further refuted suggestions that of the total 48 seats in Maharashtra, the VBA had ‘demanded’ to contest on 27 Lok Sabha seats.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai today, Mr. Raut said the MVA parties held discussions only on seat-sharing during Wednesday’s meeting and there was no talk on individual candidatures. He said there would be a final meeting of the top leaders of the MVA parties - Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole - to announce candidates and constituencies later.

“Discussions were held on seat-sharing only, that is which party would be contesting from which seat. A rough blue-print has been prepared by the MVA, which includes the Shiv Sena (UBT), the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP, the Peasant and Workers Party (PWP), and the Left parties. Mr. Ambedkar’s VBA is an important constituent of the MVA. But we have received no such proposal [on Mr. Jarange-Patil contesting Jalna] from the VBA,” said the Sena (UBT) leader.

Mr. Raut said that if a party within the MVA wanted to give a nomination to some individual in particular, then it was their concern.

On Wednesday, Mr. Ambedkar had not attended the MVA’s seat-sharing meeting at Mumbai’s hotel Trident, preferring to send a list of demands through his representatives which included giving fielding 15 OBC candidates and three candidates from religious minorities on as many Lok Sabha seats besides Mr. Jarange-Patil’s nomination from Jalna.

Mr. Raut denied that the VBA’s set of demands would cause any discord within the MVA just ahead of the Lok Sabha election.