Who Has The Edge In Maharashtra Seat-Sharing Talks?

Many rounds of talks have been underway recently in Maharashtra , a politically crucial state with 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second-highest in the country after Uttar Pradesh's 80. In the Mahayuti led by BJP, with a truncated NCP and split Shiv Sena, the party is trying to accommodate the aspirations of the leaders such as Ajit Pawar and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and their factions that represent Maratha and Marathi 'manoos' sentiment. Home Minister Amit Shah was there recently and he held talks with both camps.  The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) also held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) was also invited for talks. But many have pointed out that internal disagreements in at least 15 seats still prevail. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's final leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will enter Maharashtra's Nandurbar on March 12 and culminate at a public rally in Mumbai on March 17.