Hours left for nomination deadline, Congress, Uddhav Sena yet to finalise seats

With just hours to go before the deadline for filing nominations ends, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition is yet to announce its candidates on twenty assembly seats. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress are driving a hard bargain to get the desired seats, sources told India Today.
According to the lists released so far, the Congress is contesting on 102 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) on 84 and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) on 82 seats. The parties have so far announced candidates for 268 seats in the 288-member Assembly. Twenty seats are currently shrouded in mystery.
According to sources, Congress leaders are insistent on Versova, Byculla and Wadala constituencies in Mumbai to get exchanged with the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray.
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) has already announced its candidates for the seats that Congress is eyeing, but has offered Borivali and Mulund seats instead.
Congress state in-charge Ramesh Chennithala had reportedly called Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and MLC Milind Narvekar, saying that the party would have to prepare for a friendly fight on the three seats if they’re not exchanged.
On the flip side, the Mahayuti alliance has announced candidates for 281 of 288 seats. The BJP has announced candidates for 146 seats, Shiv Sena on 78 and Ajit Pawar’s NCP on 51.
The remaining candidates are expected to be announced today, while a few seats have also been left for the smaller parties.
The BJP, which initially said it would contest on 150 seats, announced that they would contest on 146, leaving four seats for smaller allies — the Yuva Swabhiman Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Republican Party of India (Athavale) and Jan Surajya Shakti Paksha.
Shiv Sena has also left two seats out of its share of seats for the smaller parties. The NCP, which has presumably been allotted 58 seats, has announced candidates for 51.
Maharashtra Assembly elections will take place in a single phase on November 20 while the counting of votes is slated to be held on November 23.