'Mahayuti aims at 45 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra,' says CM Eknath Shinde

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that ‘Mahayuti' (grand alliance) will focus on winning 45 out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The Mahayuti comprises the ruling Shiv Sena led by Shinde, BJP, and NCP of the Ajit Pawar faction.

Stepping up the offensive against Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for reaching out to socialist parties, Shinde affirmed that the move to join hands with socialist leaders amounts to "adulteration" of the Hindutva ideology. CM Shinde was addressing reporters while visiting a Navaratri program in Thane city shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Addressing leaders of 21 socialist parties in the state on Sunday, Thackeray mentioned that differences with them were mainly ideological which can be settled for the cause of democracy. He added that “many of them may be Muslims but they are nationalists who want to protect the country's democracy.”

Shinde on disqualification pleas against Sena MLAs

When asked about the issue of disqualification petitions filed against him and other Shiv Sena MLAs, Shinde said, "In a democracy, the majority has importance and in the state assembly 50 MLAs are with us, we are the real Shiv Sena and this has been confirmed by the Election Commission. We have faith in the judiciary and court and whatever decision is to happen will happen on merit and democracy."

In June 2022, a rebellion led by Shinde and other MLAs resulted in a division within the Shiv Sena and the downfall of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Subsequently, Shinde formed a government with the support of the BJP. In July 2023, NCP leader Ajit Pawar and eight other party MLAs joined the government led by Shinde.

The Chief Minister stated, “The 'Mahayuti' coalition members will now focus on ensuring the election of 45 Members of Parliament from the state.”