Shiv Sena should get 100 seats to contest in Maharashtra Assembly polls: Ramdas Kadam

Shiv Sena leader pushes for 100 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, aiming to win 90, amid coalition discussions.

A senior leader of the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said his party should get to contest at least 100 of the 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra.

The Shiv Sena is part of the Mahayuti coalition which also includes the BJP and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Assembly elections are due in the State in October.

"We should get 100 seats to contest, and we will make sure that we win 90 out of them," former State Minister Ramdas Kadam said on June 19 at a function to mark the 58th Foundation Day of the undivided Shiv Sena, organised by the Shinde faction at the NSCI complex in Mumbai.

Notably, Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal recently said his party should get 80-90 seats to contest in the State Assembly polls. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis later said BJP is the largest party and will contest more seats in the State election.

“However, the seat-sharing formula will be finalised only after leaders of the three parties meet and discuss,” Mr. Fadnavis said. In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Mahayuti won 17 out of 48 seats in the State. The BJP won 9 seats, Shiv Sena 7 and NCP 1.

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) of Sharad Pawar, bagged 30 seats.