The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna (SSS) led by MP Raju Shetty on Friday demanded three seats to contest from in Maharashtra at a meeting with the Congress and NCP leaders to discuss seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls next year.
The SSS is firm on its demand for the seats of Hatkanangle (won by Mr. Shetty in 2014), Buldhana (for party’s working president Ravikant Tupkar) and Wardha (for former Congress and Shiv Sena leader Subodh Mohite).
A SSS leader said, “In 2014, we contested two seats as a part of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. This time we expect three seats.” While Congress leaders refused to entertain the demand, party sources said that the Congress-NCP alliance is willing to give up three seats: Hatkanangle and Akola (to Prakash Ambedkar) and Palghar (to the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi).
Meanwhile, State Congress chief Ashok Chavan said on Friday that all talks on the alliance and seat sharing were over at the State level. He said the final decision would be taken at the Central level by the party presidents. Earlier, the Congress clarified that it was ready to join hands with Mr. Ambedkar if he decides to part ways with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. Rajendra Gavai of the Republican Party of India (Gavai group) has sought the Amaravati Lok Sabha seat from the Congress-NCP alliance.
Sources in both the parties said Mr. Gavai has been asked to contest the seat on either party’s symbol. He is yet to reply to the offer.
