The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra has entered a phase of high-stakes internal bargaining over seat-sharing for the upcoming Legislative Council (MLC) elections, scheduled for 18 June 2025. With the nomination deadline set for 1 June, the three-party coalition — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) — is racing to finalise a distribution formula for 17 seats elected by local body representatives.

The Numbers at Stake

The Mahayuti's position heading into these polls is formidable on paper. The alliance collectively secured more than 67 per cent of local body seats in recent elections, mathematically placing it in a strong position to dominate the Upper House contest. Yet it is precisely this dominance that has sharpened the internal competition over allocation.

According to sources, the BJP — functioning as the senior partner under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — is eyeing 11 to 12 seats, anchored by its numerical lead in local bodies. Shiv Sena is seeking 3 to 4 seats, while the NCP (Sunetra Pawar/Ajit Pawar) is targeting 2 to 3 seats. The BJP's proposed formula, weighted in line with corporator counts, has reportedly drawn resistance from both junior partners.

Shinde's Seven-Seat Claim and the Thane Dispute

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde initially staked claim to seven seats, aggressively pushing for constituencies including Thane, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar-Jalna, and Parbhani-Hingoli. Shinde's camp is particularly protective of Thane, a traditional Shiv Sena bastion, even as local BJP leaders argue they hold a higher corporator count — 444 compared to Shiv Sena's 346.

Shinde reportedly made an unannounced visit to Delhi over the weekend to meet the BJP central leadership, signalling that the dispute had escalated beyond state-level negotiations. Returning from the capital, he pushed back firmly against a purely arithmetic formula.

'An alliance is built on mutual respect and recognising where each party has invested years of hard work on the ground. Thane, Konkan and parts of Marathwada are deeply tied to the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray and our organisational core. You cannot simply count heads on a spreadsheet to erase decades of political groundwork. We have put forward a legitimate claim for seven seats because our workers are prepared to win them. That being said, we are in continuous dialogue with Delhi and our alliance partners. A solution that respects everyone's self-respect will emerge,' Shinde said.

NCP Pushes Merit-Based Distribution

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has rejected the notion of the NCP playing a silent junior role in the seat-sharing exercise. The party has locked horns with the BJP over strategically important constituencies such as Pune, Raigad, and Nanded, arguing that concentrated local voter bases — rather than statewide corporator totals — should determine allocation.

In Raigad, a strategic arrangement is reportedly under discussion whereby Shiv Sena may concede the MLC seat to NCP leader Aniket Tatkare, son of Sunil Tatkare, in exchange for the long-vacant Raigad Guardian Minister post — illustrating how the bargaining extends well beyond seat counts into Cabinet and administrative leverage.

'Our approach towards the Mahayuti alliance has always been pragmatic. In regions such as Pune, Raigad and Nanded, the NCP has a highly concentrated and loyal voter base capable of influencing outcomes. We are advocating a seat-by-seat merit-based assessment rather than a top-down formula,' Sunetra Pawar said.

Fadnavis Projects Unity, Holds Late-Night Meetings

Maharashtra BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule held late-night meetings to address alliance concerns as tensions simmered. Chief Minister Fadnavis has stepped in to project cohesion and downplay talk of a coalition rift.

'In a robust three-party alliance, it is entirely natural for every partner to harbour ambitions and maximise their strength. Leaders of all three parties are sitting together, and I assure you that 99 per cent of the structural formula is already aligned. The Mahayuti is fighting these 17 seats as a singular, unbreakable front, and we will win them all,' Fadnavis said.

What Happens Next

Fadnavis, Shinde, and Sunetra Pawar are expected to hold a final high-level meeting before the 1 June nomination deadline to lock in the seat list and candidate names. Senior strategists have indicated that tactical concessions — including possible Cabinet adjustments or future Assembly seat assurances — could be offered to the junior partners to prevent any public discord. This comes amid broader questions about alliance cohesion ahead of future electoral cycles in Maharashtra.