Having finalised the 26:22 seat sharing formula, Congress and NCP in Maharashtra are likely to swap Raigad and Amravati Lok Sabha constituencies in the coming general elections.
NCP will most probably field Water Resources Minister Sunil Tatkare, a close aide of Ajit Pawar, from Raigad, while PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal will test waters from Nashik parliamentary seat, replacing his nephew Sameer.
NCP will give the Amravati seat to Congress in return for Raigad. NCP had proposed that as Congress was unable to wrest the Raigad seat from Shiv Sena for the three consecutive terms, it should be given a chance, sources said.
Similarly, NCP could not win Amravati seat, which was unsuccessfully contested by Rajendra Gavai of RPI last time with its's support.
However, Congress sources said that the swap was not yet finalised.
NCP sources said party supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will meet ministers and office-bearers deputed to tour the 22 constituencies tomorrow.
"He will take stock of the political situation in the 22 constituencies and discuss finalisation of candidates. It is likely that both Congress and NCP will announce their list of candidates after February 21," party sources added.
Home Minister R R Patil has toured the Maadha constituency and interacted with the local party leaders to discuss who would replace Sharad Pawar. Pawar has been elected to the Rajya Sabha and has announced quitting electoral politics.
"The local unit of NCP is divided between senior leader Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil and Suresh Shinde, brother of local MLA Baban Shinde," sources informed.
Despite the local unit in Satara demanding that senior leader Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar be given the ticket, it is likely that sitting MP Udayanraje Bhosale will be fielded again, sources added.
