No consensus with Congress on 8 seats yet: NCP

Mumbai: A day after the reports emerged that the Congress party has finalised 12 of its candidates, its alliance talks with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have also been finalised, the NCP claimed that the two parties have reached a consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha (LS) seats in Maharashtra. There is no consensus on eight seats, they said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday held a meeting with the top leaders of the party to chalk out the election strategy for the upcoming LS elections. The names of probable candidates, including those of the Aurangabad and Nagar seats were also discussed during the meeting.

Mr Pawar said, “In Maharashtra, NCP and Congress will contest the 2019 LS elections together along with the Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI). Till now, we have decided a seat sharing of 40 seats and we'll decide regarding the eight other seats. If any consensus is not reached on remaining eight seats then the final decision will be taken by the two party chiefs in New Delhi.”

During the 2014 general elections, the Congress had fielded candidates for 27 constituencies in Maharashtra, whereas the NCP had contested 21 seats.

Earlier, the seat sharing was fixed at 26:22, but later the NCP decided not to contest from the Hatkanangale constituency, as it did not have any contender. The Congress later contested this seat.