Akhilesh Yadav Confirms SP’s Demand for 12 Seats from MVA for Assembly Polls
Maharashtra Assembly Election, 2024: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has made a formal request for 12 seats from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra, as the state gears up for assembly elections on November 20. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav revealed the demand during a press conference in Dhule district, north Maharashtra, on Saturday. He emphasized the party’s focus on constituencies where it holds sway, saying, “We’ve already declared candidates for some constituencies, particularly where we either have sitting MLAs or are confident about our chances. Ours is a party satisfied with a few seats.”
Founded by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the SP is a key player in the opposition INDIA bloc at the national level. In Maharashtra, the MVA alliance consists of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), all of whom are also members of the INDIA coalition.
Speaking at a rally in Dhule, Yadav underlined the importance of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls, predicting their impact on national politics. “This election is more than just about Maharashtra—it’s about reshaping the country’s political future. A historic election lies ahead, one that will see the downfall of the BJP government. When Maharashtra’s government falls, so will the one in Delhi,” he declared confidently.
Yadav also introduced Irshad Jahagirdar as the SP candidate for Dhule city, marking the party’s fifth nominee for the upcoming election. He urged voters to support Jahagirdar, an educated candidate, emphasizing the need for competent leadership in the state assembly.
In his speech, Yadav sharply criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of splintering political parties in Maharashtra and “stealing power.” He predicted that the central government in Delhi would not survive much longer. Additionally, Yadav blamed the Mahayuti government for widespread dissatisfaction, claiming, “The Mahayuti government has made people ‘maha dukhi’ (deeply distressed).” He further accused the ruling party of transferring industries from Maharashtra to Gujarat, exacerbating the state’s economic troubles. Yadav called for a decisive defeat of the BJP and its allies to pave the way for a change not only in Maharashtra but also in Uttar Pradesh.
In a related political development, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) expressed an interest in joining the MVA. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi confirmed that the party’s state president had already reached out to MVA members for potential discussions. “We are open to talks, but it’s up to the alliance partners to decide. As a political party, we must prepare to contest, and we’ll see what unfolds,” Owaisi told PTI.
Owaisi also touched upon the broader political scene, particularly in light of recent elections in Haryana. He remarked, “Every election matters, whether it’s an Assembly or byelection. Many expected the BJP to lose in Haryana, but that didn’t happen. Now, it’s up to Congress to introspect and figure out why they fell short.”
The MVA alliance is yet to finalize its seat-sharing arrangement for the Maharashtra elections, further intensifying political speculations as the election date nears.
