Congress' state leadership could have bagged better deal for LS seats in Mumbai: Varsha Gaikwad
Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Thursday said the party's Maharashtra leadership should have pursued equal seat-sharing among the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies for the Lok Sabha polls to ensure a better deal in the metropolis. There are six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai — Mumbai North, Mumbai North-Central, which have been allotted to the Congress in the seat sharing deal, while four others — Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-East and Mumbai North-West went to the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The MVA coalition in Maharashtra announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday with the Shiv Sena (UBT) securing a substantial portion with 21 seats, while the Congress will contest 17 seats, and the NCP (SP) 10 seats.
Talking to reporters here, Gaikwad said, «Earlier, Congress used to contest five seats in Mumbai, leaving only Mumbai North-East to the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). So we were demanding equal seat-sharing this time.»
When asked whether she was upset due to the seat-sharing, she declined to comment. «We are answerable to our cadre. I have been consistently conveying the sentiments of the cadre in Mumbai to the state and central leadership of the party to ensure the party gets equal seat sharing. But since the decision has been taken now, as a loyal worker myself and my colleagues in Mumbai will work or the party,» the former Maharashtra minister said.
Gaikwad said she had told the party leadership that as its base was strong in Mumbai
