First round of Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks inconclusive, BJP, Sena and NCP leaders to meet on March 11

Sources said that talks are being held on each of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and as of now, the BJP is likely to contest 30-32 seats, the Sena 10-12 seats and the NCP 6-8 seats.

Sources said that talks are being held on each of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and as of now, the BJP will contest 30-32 seats, the Sena 10-12 seats and the NCP will contest 6-8 seats. (PTI)

The first round of talks between the ruling BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-Ajit Pawar faction) over the Lok Sabha seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra has remained inconclusive with the three parties likely to meet again on March 11.

On Friday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, NCP state unit chief Sunil Tatkare and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in Delhi.

“There was no final decision in Friday’s meeting. We will be meeting again in two to three days,” said a senior leader from the NCP.

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Sources said that talks are being held on each of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra and as of now, the BJP will contest 30-32 seats, the Sena 10-12 seats and the NCP will contest 6-8 seats.

Discontent among the leaders of the Shiv Sena and the NCP had been visible since Wednesday following Shah’s visit to the state when it was reported that the Eknath Shinde faction would get only nine seats and the NCP five.

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Both Sena and the NCP, however, insisted that the meeting with Shah was only a preliminary discussion and a final number was yet to be arrived at.

Shinde, who was in Kolhapur, left for Delhi on Friday afternoon. Before leaving, Shinde said, “There is no reason to worry. The alliance has maintained good communication and will continue to do so with regards to seat sharing arrangement as well.”

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