Samajwadi Party Maharashtra spokesperson and Corporator Raees Shaikh said, “We are holding talks with the Democratic front for having an alliance for the upcoming assembly polls. If our party becomes an ally of Democratic front government then it will benefit both the parties due to consolidation of secular votes. The High Command will take a final call in this regard.”
Muslims have been known as the traditional vote bank for not only the Congress and NCP, but Samajwadi party. Though SP has only three MLAs, including Abu Azmi, it has often played spoiler during elections in many constituencies which has a large concentration of Muslim population.
A senior party member from Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee said, “Samajwadi Party has approached the Democratic front for having a pre-poll alliance. The party has been demanding more seats and discussions are being held. If they are willing to accept the seat sharing formula provided by us then we will have an tie up with them.”
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik talking to AV said, “Samajwadi is keen to join hands with the Democratic front for the upcoming assembly polls. Senior party members will take a final decision in this regard.”
The DF government gives a nod to this alliance then they will have to surrender some seats to accommodate Samajwadi Party. In the year 2009, the Congress contested on 174 seats where as NCP from 114 seats. This time the NCP is in favour of a 50:50 seats sharing formula. However, the Congress is reluctant to offer more seats to NCP and also had warned the latter of severing ties with it. The seat sharing formula will have to be reworked taking into consideration the changing political equations in the state.