MVA Allies Face Off Over Key Constituency Seat-Sharing

The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, led by senior Maharashtra leaders Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, is showing deep internal rifts just before the assembly elections, raising concerns about its stability. All three parties within the alliance are fielding candidates against each other in various constituencies, with unresolved seat-sharing negotiations intensifying tensions. Particularly strained is the relationship between Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, with disagreements erupting over candidate allocations. The Congress is reportedly considering a “Sangli pattern” strategy in select constituencies, while Pawar’s candidates are allegedly facing marginalization in some areas.

In a rare move, MVA parties are directly contesting each other in key constituencies, such as Paranda, South Solapur, and Deegars, where Congress leaders are going head-to-head with candidates from Thackeray’s camp. These confrontations have further divided the coalition, and additional allegations of candidate favoritism are fueling discontent within the ranks. Traditional allies like the Peasants and Workers Party and the Samajwadi Party have also voiced frustrations over limited seat allocations, with some announcing their own candidates, amplifying the discord within the MVA. A heated exchange recently occurred between Congress President Nana Patole and Sanjay Raut, a Uddhav Thackeray ally, over naming Uddhav as the chief ministerial candidate—a move that Congress leaders criticized as premature and divisive.

The MVA’s internal discord comes as the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is demonstrating greater unity, with streamlined coordination among its members. While MVA members squabble over seat-sharing, the BJP has strategically supported the Shiv Sena faction under Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP group, allowing Mahayuti to maintain internal stability and a strong electoral presence. This organizational strength presents the BJP-led coalition as a formidable opponent, casting doubt on the MVA’s ability to sustain a cohesive front as they head into the Maharashtra Assembly elections.