Maharashtra MLC polls: Eknath Shinde flies to Delhi as Mahayuti seat row escalates | Mumbai News

May 24, 2026 Headlinesnews

3 min readMumbaiMay 24, 2026 12:07 PM IST

Amid a seat-sharing tussle within the ruling Mahayuti alliance for the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Delhi on Saturday night. The party has demanded seven seats, even as the BJP plans to contest 11 to 12 seats, leave three seats for the Sena, and two to three seats for the Sunetra Pawar-led NCP.

The nomination process is set to begin on Monday.

The elections are being held for 16 seats from local self-government constituencies and one bypoll seat from Nagpur. Voting will be held on June 18, and counting will take place on June 22.

Sources in the Sena said Shinde is likely to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid the ongoing deadlock over seat-sharing. He is expected to leave for Bengaluru, where he is scheduled to attend a programme at the Art of Living Foundation on Sunday evening.

Talks between the BJP, the Shinde-led Sena, and the NCP have been going on for the past five days, but the allies are yet to finalise seat-sharing.

The Sena, however, later demanded seven seats, saying it has strong support in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Sambhajinagar, Ratnagiri, Nashik, and Yavatmal.

While the allies have reached an agreement on most seats after several rounds of meetings, the main dispute is over the Thane local authorities constituency, along with Nashik, Sambhaji Nagar, and Parbhani.

Thane: Why BJP is staking claim

The BJP and the Shinde-led Sena have claimed the seat. BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar said the seat should go to the BJP because it has stronger numbers in the constituency. He claimed the BJP has 444 corporators in the region, compared to 346 corporators from the Shinde-led Sena and the Jijau organisation combined.

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The Shinde-led Sena, however, considers Thane its traditional stronghold and is unwilling to give up the seat.

On Saturday, Maharashtra BJP chief Ravindra Chavan and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule met Shinde as part of the talks. Soon after, NCP leader Sunil Tatkare also met the Deputy Chief Minister. Sources said the allies have reached an agreement on almost all other seats.

Sources also said the Shinde-led Sena is preparing to field a candidate in Raigad, further complicating negotiations.

The final decision on the remaining dispute is expected to be taken at a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar on Monday.

Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
Expertise & Authority

Current Role: Senior Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai bureau.

Geographical Specialization: Provides exclusive and detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, operating at the epicenter of the state’s decision-making in Mumbai.

Core Authority: His reporting demonstrates deep Expertise across critical and often complex state matters, including:

Political Dynamics: In-depth analysis of the ruling coalition (Mahayuti) and opposition (MVA), internal party conflicts, and crucial election updates, including local body polls and municipal corporation tussles.

Governance & Policy: Focused coverage on significant state policies, such as the overhaul of Mumbai’s ‘pagdi system’ (rent control for old buildings) and social welfare schemes (e.g., Ladki Bahin Yojana accountability).

Infrastructure & Development: Reports on major urban and regional infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai Water Metro, Uttan-Virar Sea Link, and Thane Metro development.

Administrative Oversight: Follows legislative actions, cabinet decisions, and reports on issues of accountability and alleged fraud within state departments.

Experience

Current Role: His role at The Indian Express—a leading national daily—validates the credibility and standard of his reporting.

Career Foundation: Prior to The Indian Express, Vallabh contributed to other major metropolitan news outlets, including the Mumbai Mirror and DNA – Daily News & Analysis, providing a solid foundation in rigorous urban and political journalism.

Evidence of Impact: His work consistently breaks down complex political developments and administrative failures, such as exposing discrepancies in government welfare schemes, cementing his reputation as a trusted source for ground-level, impactful news from Maharashtra.

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