In light of the recent controversy surrounding Sanjay Raut's remarks on seat-sharing, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has reassured the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance that he will not do anything to harm their partnership. Thackeray's comments are seen as a snub to Raut, whose statement about Shiv Sena contesting 23 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections had upset Congress, an ally in the MVA.

Thackeray made the assurance during a media interaction, emphasizing that the ticket distribution process will proceed smoothly. He further mentioned that he has already spoken to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi, indicating his commitment to resolving any concerns within the alliance.

The controversy ignited when Raut, causing a stir, proclaimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) would be vying for 23 out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. He also suggested that seat-sharing negotiations with Congress would need to start from scratch due to their lack of previous electoral victories, drawing a strong reaction from state Congress leaders.

Refusing to be swayed by the controversy, Thackeray stated, "I will not do anything that will hurt the MVA. So, I will not pay attention to those who say anything. Until the Congress president speaks on this issue (seat-sharing), till that time, neither I nor anyone from my side will comment."

Thackeray also acknowledged the smooth progress in discussions between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction). Meanwhile, he expressed the need for a joint meeting involving all MVA members, including Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi have already established an alliance, the decision to include the Ambedkar-led outfit in the MVA alliance and any electoral partnership is yet to be determined.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, Shiv Sena (Undivided) secured victory in 18 out of the 23 seats it contested in Maharashtra, while its ally BJP claimed 23 out of the 25 constituencies. The NCP (Undivided) emerged victorious in 4 seats, while Congress managed to win only one seat.

As the seat-sharing talks continue within the MVA alliance, the assurance from Uddhav Thackeray seeks to maintain unity and harmony among the constituents, paving the way for a united front in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.