Mumbai: In a significant development ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis discussed 'pact' with MNS chief Raj Thackeray, claimed sources on Monday.
Notably, the discussion between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and MNS President Raj Thackeray took place in a five star hotel in Mumbai. Discussion took place between Shinde-Fadnavis-Thacker for two hours
The three leaders discussed Shivdi, Worli, Mahim and some other seats ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Strategy to support each other on some seats was discussed between Mahayuti and MNS, sources said.
Pratap Rao Jadhav, Union Minister of State for Health, on Uddhav Thackeray and Fadnavis meeting, said Uddhav Thackeray must have wanted to come with BJP, that is why he must have met Fadnavis. He said all alliance partners in Mahayuti have good understanding.
On seat sharing of Mahayuti, he added that it is almost 90% complete and talks are have been put on hold on some five-seven seats but that will also be resolved. He said that the candidates list of Shiv Sena Shinde faction will be released today or tomorrow and there is no dispute between alliance members.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Maharashtra BJP president, said the news of a meeting between Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray is wrong. He said why will Devendra Fadnavis meet Uddhav Thackeray?
"Now Uddhav Thackeray should think what has happened to his condition in the Congress alliance. He had the respect with BJP but now even after visiting Delhi, his demands are not met. He has to sit with Sharad Pawar for two hours," he said.
The development comes at a time when the Election Commission announced dates for the Assmebly polls and said elections will be held on November 20 and the results will be declared on November 23.
The term of the Maharashtra assembly will end on November 26, 2024 and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said Maharashtra will have single-phase voting on 288 seats.
The Maharashtra assembly comprises 288 members who are directly elected from single-seat constituencies, and this year, the election will be a two-way fight between the ruling Mahayuti Alliance of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena-Eknath Shinde and NCP-Ajit Pawar, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP-Sharad Pawar, and the Congress.
