Rebellion against Sharad Pawar gave BJP a ‘political gift’? Ajit faction can beat the Lok Sabha elections on so many seats
In 2019, NCP had won Raigarh, Baramati, Shirur and Satara Lok Sabha seats. AIMIM had won in Aurangabad. Also Congress-NCP supported Navneet Rana, who won from Amravati, but later supported BJP.
There has been a stir in Maharashtra after the rebellion of Ajit Pawar and his supporting MLAs. The state’s new Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) would contest 90 assembly seats. At the same time, it has now been learned that the party has already tied up with the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections as well. Sources said the Ajit Pawar-led NCP will contest 13-15 seats in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, in the assembly elections, the NCP will contest on the seats currently held by the Congress.
NCP leader told the math of 90 seats
A senior NCP leader from the Ajit Pawar camp told The Indian Express that the statement about 90 assembly seats is very logical. But it has also been decided that NCP will contest on 13-15 Lok Sabha seats as well. This includes four seats where the NCP has sitting MPs and seats like Aurangabad where the opposition won in 2019.
The NCP leader said that since its inception, the party has not been able to cross the double digit mark in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections. He said that it will be ensured that we cross the double digit mark this time. The Shinde faction has 13 MPs, they will decide how many will contest the Lok Sabha elections. But we have made it clear that we will contest on 13-15 seats.
In 2019, the party had won the Raigad, Baramati, Shirur and Satara Lok Sabha seats. AIMIM had won in Aurangabad. Also Congress-NCP supported Navneet Rana, who won from Amravati, but later supported BJP. The NCP’s tie-up with the BJP is likely to further escalate tensions in the Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Explaining the logic behind fighting on 90 seats, the NCP leader said that we currently have 53 MLAs. If two independent MLAs i.e. Devendra Bhuyar and Sanjay Shinde are added to this, then the number will be 55.
Congress got 45 seats in Maharashtra
The NCP leader told The Indian Express that the Congress has won 45 assembly seats in Maharashtra. It is not just Congress votes but NCP has helped them to win. Naturally, if we contest against them, we have a better chance of winning those seats.
