Things inside Mahayuti in Maharashtra are looking quite tense rn,and this is happening just before nomination deadline on June 1,2026 . MLC elections are scheduled for June 18,and honestly,seat-sharing has become bigger headache than usual .
This election will fill 17 Legislative Council (MLC) seats elected by representatives from local bodies . And because BJP,Shiv Sena and NCP together secured over 67% seats in recent local body elections,every party now wants its share to match ground strength .
BJP,being senior partner in alliance led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis,is clearly asking for bigger chunk . Sources say BJP wants around 11 to 12 seats,while Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is pushing for 3 to 4 seats,and NCP under Sunetra Pawar wants 2 to 3 seats.
But this is not going smoothly only.
Few things are creating friction clearly:
- BJP wants 11 to 12 seats based on its stronger local body election numbers.
- Shiv Sena is arguing that regions like Thane and Pune cannot be ignored because of its historical strength there.
- NCP is saying its concentrated voter base in strategic areas should also count.
And tbh,this is where alliance politics becomes messy . On paper,everyone is together,but when actual seats come on table,each party suddenly remembers its own strongholds,old claims and local leaders .
In Raigad,there are talks about one possible arrangement where Shiv Sena may concede MLC seat to NCP leader Aniket Tatkare in exchange for major political position . That itself shows this is not just about numbers,but also about bargaining power behind closed doors.
Pune has also become big flashpoint because all three partners want seat there . BJP,Shiv Sena and NCP are all talking about demographic advantage and past election performance,and obviously,no one wants to look weak before June 18 polls.
As pressure increased,Chandrashekhar Bawankule,Maharashtra BJP President,has reportedly held late-night meetings to hear concerns of alliance partners . Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also stepped in and tried to push unity,saying numerical strength matters but alliance stability is also needed.
And that is real problem here . If BJP takes too much,Shiv Sena and NCP may feel sidelined . If BJP gives too much,it may upset its own cadre after such strong local body results . Everyone wants united front,but nobody wants to sacrifice safe seat quietly…
