The political landscape in Maharashtra is heating up as the state gears up for the upcoming Assembly elections. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, comprising the Indian National Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and other smaller parties, is set to challenge the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Key figures such as Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis have engaged in heated exchanges, with personal attacks and accusations of betrayal.

The MVA plans to kick-start its campaign on August 20, with Rahul Gandhi and Sharad Pawar expected to address a rally in Mumbai. Meanwhile, the BJP is advised against relying solely on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image for the election campaign, suggesting a shift in strategy. The seat-sharing deal for the MVA has been finalized with Congress contesting 100 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 100 seats, NCP (SP) 80 seats, SP 4 seats, and others 4 seats.

On the other hand, the BJP-led NDA alliance is also finalizing its seat-sharing arrangements. The BJP is expected to contest elections on more than 32 seats, while the seat distribution among the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Ajit Pawar’s camp and Shiv Sena Ekhnath Shinde faction will be based on their winnability. The BJP has set a target of winning over 45 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in the upcoming elections.

The political dynamics in Maharashtra are complex, with alliances being formed and broken. The seat-sharing deals are crucial for the parties to maximize their chances of winning in the upcoming elections. As the election date approaches, the political landscape in Maharashtra is expected to become even more intense.