'Maha' Drama: As Sena, NCP Try to Crack Lok Sabha Deal with BJP, Ajit Pawar's Wife Hugs 'Rival-Nanad' Supriya Sule

In a major development in the seat-sharing talks between the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in Maharashtra, Union Home Minister Amit Shah advised chief minister Eknath Shinde to ‘change some Shiv Sena candidates’ for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2 hour-long meeting, which was held at Shah’s residence late on Friday, the advise to change the picks came after senior BJP leaders’ alleged skepticism over some candidates.

Meanwhile, it was suggested that some changes within the Congress Party (NCP) candidates are also possible. NCP leader Ajit Pawar batted for an increased number of seats for hi party at the meeting.

It is likely that the NCP will get three to four seats, while Shinde’s Sena might contest on 10 to 12 seats.

Mahayuti Talks

Though no seat-sharing formula has been finalised yet, the BJP has offered five seats to Ajit Pawar’s NCP and 10 to 12 seats to the Shinde faction.

However, both the camps are pressing for more seats. Ajit Pawar has sought nine seats, as per the promise made to him when he joined hands with the BJP.

Another round of seat-sharing talks is likely to happen within two days for the Mahayuti to finalise the formula.

Seat-Sharing Brainstorm Among MVA

With the announcement of Lok Sabha elections just days away, political parties in Maharashtra are brainstorming over seat-sharing.

Sources told News18 that the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s Prakash Ambedkar has given a list of 27 seats to state’s opposition group, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), adding that he is not ready to tell how much he can compromise.

He reportedly demanded seats where either MVA candidate had won for finished second in the previous general elections.

MVA’s top brass, the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP, asked Ambedkar to inform about the seats on which he is confident of winning.

Supriya Sule Hugs Sister-in-law Amid LS Polls Battle Speculation

A video of NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule and her sister-in-law Sunetra Pawar hugging each other at a temple is going viral on social media.

This comes amid the speculations that Sule might be standing against Sunetra Pawar in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sunetra is the wife of Supriya Sule’s cousin and Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar.

The video of the two smiling and hugging each other is from Baramati’s Jalochi village’s Kamleshwar temple.

“After offering prayers at the temple, I happened to meet Supriya `tai’ (elder sister in Marathi). We both exchanged greetings on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and Women’s Day,” Sunetra Pawar told news agency PTI.

BJP’s Seat Formula Likely To Be Out Soon

As the Mahagathbandhan held seat-sharing talks at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s residence late on Friday, sources told News18 that Maharashtra’s NDA seat-sharing formula is likely to be declared by either March 10 or 11.

Of the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, BJP might contest five and the remaining one seat by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.

Fadnavis Says Gadkari’s Name Will Be 1st In BJP’s Maha List

Maharashtra Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s name would be the first in the BJP’s list of candidates for the state, once seat-sharing deal is sealed for the general elections.

Fadnavis brushed aside Uddhav Thackeray’s offer of a Lok Sabha ticket to Gadkari from the opposition’s MVA.

“Gadkari is our prominent leader. He contests from Nagpur. When the first list of candidates (of BJP) was released, there had been no discussions among Mahayuti partners (BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP)….When the discussions take place, Gadkari’s name would come up first (in the candidates’ list),’ he said.

Thackeray had earlier said that the Gadkari should show “Maharashtra’s mettle” and resign instead of obeying “Delhi”. “We will ensure his election as an MVA candidate,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief added.

(With PTI inputs)