Why BJP and allies are stuck over these 6 seats in Maharashta

The BJP and its Mahayuti partners in Maharashtra -- Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party -- are struggling to reach a consensus on some seats even as the state votes in four days for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

According to sources, the Mahayuti allies are yet to decide who contests over six seats -- South Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat of Konkan, Nashik and Aurangabad.

On the Nashik seat, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP had pitched the name of former minister Chhagan Bhujbal. But Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is not ready to leave the seat since party leader Hemant Godse is the sitting MP from Nashik.

In Aurangabad, the BJP had staked claim with Union Home Minister Amit Shah announcing that the next Member of Parliament from the constituency will be from the party. But on Monday, Eknath Shinde went to Aurangabad and told his supporters that only the Shiv Sena candidate would contest from the seat.

For Thane and Ratnagiri, the BJP initially wanted to get either of the two seats. But India Today TV has now learned that the party is willing to let go of the Thane seat for Eknath Shinde. 

Rajan Vichare, the sitting MP from Thane, won the seat on a Shiv Sena ticket in 2019. But after the split in Shiv Sena, he sided with the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.

Moreover, Eknath Shinde does not want to leave his stronghold Thane seat for his Mahayuti allies. For this, he is willing to give up the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat, where the BJP plans to field Narayan Rane, sources said.

Further, the BJP is likely to get the Palghar seat. The seat was earlier represented by a BJP MP until it went to the Shiv Sena in 2019. 

But Shiv Sena is not ready to leave the South Mumbai seat as the party fears that giving up too many seats in the state capital might hamper its chances in the Assembly election later this year.

Earlier, Eknath Shinde announced eight candidates in the Mumbai division. But two of them had to be changed. Four MPs had to be denied tickets, due to which Shinde was already under pressure. 

Due to this, he is not in the mood to leave the seats in Shiv Sena's areas of influence and more seats in Mumbai.

On the other hand, the BJP believes that considering the factor of winnability, South Mumbai, Thane, Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and Nashik should be left by Eknath Shinde but the Shiv Sena chief is adamant on holding these seats.

A decision is expected in the coming one or two days. It is believed that Chhagan Bhujbal will have to give up his claim on Nashik seat and Shinde Sena will retain this seat. 

Eknath Shinde is likely to retain the Thane seat and the BJP might get the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg seat, sources said. However, the uncertainty over the South Mumbai seat is likely to continue as Eknath Shinde is still staking claim on it.