A 56-party strong 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) finalised in Maharashtra is all set to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena-led ruling alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, here on Saturday.
The two biggest partners in the 'grand alliance' - Congress and Nationalist Congress Party - have decided to accommodate some of the smaller partners by leaving aside four seats out of the total 48 constituencies in the state.
The parties which are expected to fight the elections are: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Yuva Swabhimani Party.
In contrast, the ruling BJP-Sena alliance has given a short shrift to all its smaller allies by dividing the 48 seats among themselves in the ratio of 25:23, sparking resentment, especially in the Republican Party of India (A) led by Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale.
--IANS
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