Varsha Gaikwad believes that the Maharashtra Congress had the potential to secure a more favorable arrangement for Lok Sabha seats.

Congress Supporters During A Rally Of Party Candidate From Bengaluru Central Mansoor Ali Khan Before He Files His Nomination Papers For Lok Sabha Elections, In Bengaluru, April 3, 2024.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad expressed her views on the recent seat-sharing arrangement within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Gaikwad noted that the Congress should have pushed for equal seat-sharing among the three allies to secure a fairer deal in Mumbai, specifically highlighting the six Lok Sabha seats in the city.

Under the current arrangement, Congress received Mumbai North and Mumbai North-Central, while Shiv Sena got Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-East, and Mumbai North-West. Gaikwad mentioned that historically, Congress contested five seats in Mumbai and advocated for an equal distribution this time, especially given the party's strength in certain constituencies.

While Gaikwad refrained from expressing direct discontent, she emphasized the need for the party to address the concerns of its cadre. She mentioned consistently conveying Mumbai cadre sentiments to both state and central leadership, urging for equal seat-sharing based on merit and potential for victory.

Regarding the late request from Shiv Sena's Vinod Ghosalkar for the Mumbai North seat, Gaikwad suggested a possible swap with Mumbai South-Central but left the final decision to the leadership. Overall, she stressed the importance of a strong organizational presence and urged for a more balanced seat-sharing approach among the MVA allies.