Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: Shinde’s Shiv Sena Demands 100 Seats

A senior leader of the Shiv Sena, part of the Mahayuti coalition, has announced the party’s demand to contest at least 100 of the 288 assembly seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024. Speaking during the 58th Foundation Day of the undivided Shiv Sena, Ramdas Kadam emphasized the need for a substantial share for his party in the state assembly polls.

In the 2019 assembly elections, the Shiv Sena was in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, after facing setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is gearing up for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled for October-November. While there are no visible cracks in the ruling NDA, discussions have been ongoing among its partners regarding seat allocation for the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024.

Kadam pointed out that the delay in announcing seat-sharing affected the NDA alliance during the Lok Sabha polls. The Shiv Sena, which contested 15 seats, secured 7 wins, while the BJP won only 9 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats. For the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, Kadam has demanded 100 seats for Shiv Sena, expressing confidence that they would win at least 90 of them.

Chhagan Bhujbal, a Maharashtra minister and NCP leader, echoed similar sentiments, stating that his party should receive 80-90 seats to contest. However, the BJP, being the largest party in terms of assembly seats in 2019, faces a delicate balancing act. While the Shiv Sena may expect a better share based on its Lok Sabha performance, the NCP’s demand might not be fully met due to its lackluster showing in the general elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the BJP, as the largest party, would contest more seats in the state election. The final seat-sharing formula will be determined after leaders from the three parties engage in discussions.

Maharashtra Assembly Election 2019 Results

The Maharashtra Assembly Election of 2019, held on October 21 and with results declared on October 24, saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56 seats, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 54 seats, Indian National Congress (INC) 44 seats, and others including Independents 29 seats. The voter turnout was approximately 61.4%.

The BJP and Shiv Sena contested the election as allies but faced post-election disputes over power-sharing, leading to the breakdown of their alliance. Consequently, Uddhav Thackeray from Shiv Sena was sworn in as Chief Minister on November 28, leading a coalition government called “Maha Vikas Aghadi” (MVA) comprising Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress. This marked a significant political shift in Maharashtra, as the BJP, despite being the single largest party, was unable to form the government, ending its direct rule in the state. The election was notable for the realignment of political alliances and the formation of a coalition government uniting long-time adversaries.

The Uddhav Shiv Sena Split

The Shiv Sena, founded by the late Bal Thackeray, witnessed internal strife when a faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde staged a rebellion in June 2022. This faction, known as the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray), broke away from the parent party, creating a rift within its ranks. The split was marked by ideological differences and power struggles, resulting in a new political entity that aligned more closely with the BJP.

The Sharad NCP’s Division

Simultaneously, the NCP, led by veteran politician Sharad Pawar, faced its own challenges. Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s nephew and a prominent NCP leader, decided to join the ruling alliance led by Eknath Shinde. This move surprised many, as Ajit Pawar had been a key figure in the NCP. His decision to switch allegiances further weakened the NCP’s position and bolstered the BJP-led coalition.

Recent Lok Sabha Elections

The recently concluded Maharashtra Lok Sabha elections witnessed a fierce battle for the 48 parliamentary seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) aimed high, hoping to secure 45-plus seats. However, the results fell short of their expectations, with the NDA managing to clinch only 17 seats. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (led by Sharad Pawar), emerged victorious in 30 constituencies.

The BJP, which had won 23 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, faced a significant setback, securing just nine seats this time. Their ally, Shiv Sena, secured seven seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP managed to bag one seat. However, Sunetra Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s wife, faced defeat in Baramati against Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar.

The Congress party witnessed a remarkable turnaround, winning 13 seats—a significant increase from the solitary seat it secured in 2019. Shiv Sena (UBT) secured nine seats, and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) secured eight.

As the state prepares for another electoral battle in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, the dynamics of seat-sharing will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, aims to retain its hold, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, led by the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), seeks to challenge their dominance.