BJP'S AMBITIOUS SEAT PLANS FOR MAHARASHTRA

In the 2019 alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP clinched victory in 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the Sena secured 18 out of 23.

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Of total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the Bhartiya Janta Party is planning to contest for around 30 seats while leaving the rest 18 for the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

According to sources, both the Shinde faction and the Ajit Pawar faction will retain their seats, which they won in the 2019 elections, and most of the candidates will be retained.

However, most of the sitting MPs’ of Shinde and Pawar faction faces anti-incumbency, and the BJP may ask some of them to contest on the BJP’s symbol and PM Modi’s face, which can further reduce the anti-incumbency.

Further, the BJP is eyeing four out of six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai, leaving two for the Shinde group. However, the Shinde faction demands an equal distribution of three seats each in Mumbai. In the 2019 alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena, the BJP clinched victory in 23 out of 25 contested seats, while the Sena secured 18 out of 23.