Mahayuti seat-sharing: Ramdas Athawale seeks 10-12 seats for assembly polls in Maharashtra

The Republican Party of India (Athawale), an ally in the ruling Mahayuti, should get to contest on at least 10 to 12 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said on Sunday. The minister said that the RPI-A will contest the election on its party symbol and ask for three to four seats in Vidarbha, including north Nagpur, Umred (Nagpur), Umarkhed in Yavatmal, and Washim. 

Athawale's party is part of the Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar's NCP. Athawale said, "The RPI-A has made a list of 18 probable seats, which it will be sharing with the Mahayuti partners in a few days and expects to get at least 10 to 12 seats in the seat-sharing pact." 

The minister said the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP should give four seats each from their quota for his party. In Palghar earlier this week, he claimed that due to the inclusion of Ajit Pawar's NCP in the Mahayuti government, the RPI (A) did not get any ministerial berth in the state despite a promise. 

Athawale claimed that the party was promised cabinet positions, chairmanship of two corporations, and roles in district-level committees, but all this could not happen because of Pawar’s inclusion. 

As per reports, the BJP may contest anywhere between 140-150 seats and Shinde-led Shiv Sena may be given 80 seats to contest. The NCP may have to settle with just 55 seats, about half the seats Ajit Pawar demanded from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

The elections to 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra are likely to be held in November. 

In the current assembly, the BJP is the single largest party with 103 MLAs, followed by Shiv Sena 40, NCP 41.