29 September,2024 05:44 PM IST | Pandarpur | mid-day online correspondent
Balasaheb Thorat. File pic
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Mahayuti alliance should discuss whom it would choose as the leader of the opposition (LoP) after the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, quipped Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat on Sunday, reported the PTI.
Talking to reporters, Balasaheb Throat expressed confidence that the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), will win over 180 seats in the upcoming polls, as per the PTI.
Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly will likely be held in November.
Ahead of the polls in the state, the top Election Commission officials held meeting with the parties in Maharashtra during their recent two-day visit to the state.
ALSO READ
No arbitrary addition, deletion in voters list in Maharashtra: EC tells Congress
OBC leaders shocked by my exclusion from Maharashtra cabinet: Chhagan Bhujbal
Nana Patole hits back at 'urban Naxal' allegations by CM Devendra Fadnavis
Attacks on 'Marathi manoos' on rise after BJP's win in Maharashtra polls: Raut
BJP issues show cause notice to MLC Mohite Patil for anti-party activities
"Once we get a solid majority, we will unanimously decide on the CM candidate," Balasaheb Thorat said, adding that Mahayuti parties-- BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, should start finalising who will be the LoP.
Though the One Nation, One Election' concept looks good on paper, it's not feasible, he said.
"Otherwise, the government would have held Maharashtra polls with Haryana elections and not taken another month to campaign with taxpayers' money," claimed the senior Congress leader, according to the PTI.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi is confident of doing well in the upcoming polls after its impressive performance in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, wherein it won 30 of the 48 seats in the state. As an individual party, Congress emerged as the best, winning 13 of the 17 seats it contested.
It now also has the support of Sangli MP Vishal Patil, who had contested as an independent, the PTI reported.
By contrast, Mahayuti bagged 17 seats, with BJP's tally in the state dropping to 9 from 23 in the 2019 general elections.
"We are striving to get a solid majority as MVA. The chief ministerial candidate will be decided later," he said, the news agency reported on Sunday.
Winnability is the only criterion for seat sharing, he said, asserting that MVA will fight unitedly and succeed.
Balasaheb Thorat said that the opposition bloc has reached a consensus on 125 of the 288 seats.
Earlier in the day, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar said MVA will conclude its seat-sharing talks in 8 to 10 days, reported the PTI.
(with PTI inputs)
