Akhilesh Yadav Considers Solo Run in Maharashtra if Not Integrated into MVA
In a significant development, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav announced on Sunday that the party might independently contest the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections if the opposition INDIA bloc does not accommodate its demands. Yadav stressed that the SP would only compete in constituencies where it could secure votes without jeopardizing the alliance's interests.
The SP has already put forth candidates for five of the 12 seats it is seeking from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar's NCP, and the Congress. The announced candidates are from Dhule City, Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, Bhiwandi East, Bhiwandi West, and Malegaon Central. Although the SP initially sought 12 seats, it contested only four in the 2019 elections, winning two.
Yadav remarked, "The state president of the Samajwadi Party will determine our course of action. We will first attempt to remain in alliance. However, if the Maha Vikas Aghadi does not include us, we will contest in seats where we have voter support or an active organization. There will be no harm to the alliance from our candidacy. But in politics, there's no room for sacrifice."
On Saturday, Abu Azmi, the Maharashtra chief of the Samajwadi Party, issued a stern warning to the MVA, stating that if his party was not allotted five seats, it would have no choice but to field candidates in up to 25 constituencies.
MVA’s Seat-Sharing Agreement for the Elections
The MVA coalition has laid out a seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming assembly elections, distributing 255 of the 288 total constituencies. Each party in the alliance will receive 85 seats, with the remaining 23 allocated based on candidate lists from the respective parties.
The elections are scheduled for November 20. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP emerged victorious with 105 seats, while its then-partner Shiv Sena secured 56 seats. The NCP, previously aligned with the UPA, won 54 seats, and Congress garnered 44.
AAP to Support MVA Campaign in Maharashtra
In another development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), also part of the INDIA bloc, announced that it would not contest the Maharashtra elections. Instead, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for the MVA candidates, as stated by party leader Sanjay Singh on Saturday. Singh, a Rajya Sabha MP, shared this update on X, clarifying, "Arvind Kejriwal will be campaigning for the MVA candidates in Maharashtra. Aam Aadmi Party will not contest the elections in the state."
