NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is reportedly expressing frustration over ongoing delays in finalizing a seat-sharing agreement with the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies ahead of the state elections. The MVA coalition, consisting of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has been struggling to settle on an equitable distribution of assembly seats. 

During a recent Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting held at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Gandhi voiced his displeasure with the state Congress leaders for not effectively advocating for a fair share of seats. He highlighted that the delay in finalizing the seat-sharing agreement has resulted in Congress receiving fewer seats than expected, which could potentially weaken the party's position in the elections.

Although the MVA allies have reached tentative agreements on several constituencies, unresolved disputes over key seats have caused tensions within the alliance, particularly around areas where multiple parties seek representation over specific constituencies, particularly in Mumbai and the Vidarbha region, have caused tensions within the alliance.

Sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi is concerned that these unresolved issues could weaken the MVA’s election strategy and hinder the coalition’s campaign effectiveness. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, including Sanjay Raut, have publicly voiced their dissatisfaction with Congress’s perceived delays, citing procedural bottlenecks as the reason for the lack of a finalized plan. Raut emphasized the need for immediate action to ensure readiness for the upcoming elections, slated for November 20.

Gandhi's concerns has also been echoed by other senior Congress leaders, who pointed out that the party should have secured more seats based on its performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The Congress had won 13 out of the 17 seats it contested, demonstrating its strong presence in the state.

Maharashtra Congress leaders, including party president Nana Patole, have assured that negotiations are ongoing and that high-level discussions aim to conclude the seat-sharing process soon.

Balasaheb Thorat, the Congress legislative party chief, has been tasked with meeting Uddhav Thackeray to address these issues and work towards resolving the disputes. The tensions have been exacerbated by criticisms from party insiders, particularly regarding the distribution of seats and the overall strategy for the upcoming elections.

However, with the election date approaching, Gandhi's concerns reflect a desire for greater urgency from the state leadership to prevent any last-minute disruptions in the alliance’s campaign momentum.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has criticized Rahul Gandhi's leadership, suggesting that he should revise the seat-sharing formula if he is unhappy with it. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut emphasized the need for unity among the MVA allies to ensure a strong opposition against the BJP in Maharashtra.