Mumbai: As the nomination deadline for the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections approaches, major political alliances have been working to finalize their seat-sharing agreements. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has reportedly reached a consensus on 15 out of the 17 seats, while the ruling Mahayuti alliance continues its negotiations to settle seat allocations among its constituent parties. The elections for these seats are scheduled to be held soon, with nominations closing on June 1, 2026.
Maha Vikas Aghadi’s Seat Allocation
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), has announced its seat-sharing formula for 15 of the 17 Legislative Council seats. According to the agreement, the Congress is set to contest eight seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) will contest six seats, and the NCP (SP) will field candidates in three seats. This distribution was decided during meetings held in Mumbai, involving key leaders from the alliance parties.
The Congress will contest the seats of Chandrapur, Yavatmal, Bhandara, Amravati, Ahilyanagar, Solapur, Dharashiv-Latur-Beed, and Nagpur, where a by-election is being held. Shiv Sena (UBT) is slated to contest from Raigad, Jalgaon, Parbhani-Hingoli, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The NCP (SP) will contest in Pune, Thane, and Sangli-Satara. Discussions are ongoing for the remaining two seats, Nashik and Nanded, with an amicable resolution expected.
Mahayuti Alliance’s Seat-Sharing Discussions
In contrast, the ruling Mahayuti alliance, which includes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), is still in the process of finalizing its seat-sharing formula. Reports indicate that the BJP is expected to contest 11 seats, Shiv Sena will contest four seats, and the NCP will contest two seats. However, negotiations for the Nashik and Nanded seats are reportedly still underway within the Mahayuti camp.
Sources suggest that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is advocating for a larger share of seats, citing his party’s expanded organizational reach and political influence. Despite ongoing discussions, leaders from the Mahayuti alliance have expressed confidence in reaching a final agreement before the nomination deadline. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stated that discussions are nearing completion and differences on a few seats are expected to be resolved soon.
Election Schedule and Context
The Election Commission of India has announced elections for 17 local body constituencies of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. The nomination deadline is June 1, 2026, with scrutiny of nominations on June 2 and the last date for withdrawal on June 4. Polling is scheduled for June 18, and the votes will be counted on June 22. These elections are significant as they involve elected members of local governing bodies and are seen as a test of strength for both major political alliances in the state.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi had previously demonstrated strength in the 2024 general elections, winning a considerable number of Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. The Mahayuti alliance, on the other hand, is seeking to consolidate its position following recent political realignments. The outcomes of these Legislative Council elections are anticipated to influence the political landscape in Maharashtra leading up to future electoral contests.
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The Chenab Times News Desk