SSS wants at least 4 Lok Sabha seats: Raju Shetti

Mumbai: The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), one of the allies of the grand Opposition alliance led by the Congress in the state, wants at least four Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming general election.

Speaking with The Asian Age Wednesday, SSS leader Raju Shetti confirmed the development saying that they wanted to contest the Hatkanangle, Buldhana, Wardha and Madha seats. However, the SSS had given a list of seven seats to the Congress party. Mr Shetty, who was earlier associated with the NDA, was the first to oppose the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government’s attitude to farmers’ issues.

The Congress’ alliance talk with the Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) is still in limbo. Abu Asim Azmi, president of the Samajwadi Party in Maharashtra has already announced that they will contest the Lok Sabha elections separately if his party does not get one Lok Sabha seat. He said he would field party candidates in ten LS seats in the election. At this juncture, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are trying hard to get as many like-minded parties in their Mahagathbandhan. However, the efforts seem to be proving futile.

A source close to Shetti said, “If three seats are not given to the SSS, the party will go solo in the Lok Sabha election.”

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “An alliance can’t be made by making a statement in public. Discussion always happens in the meeting. We are trying our best to bring all anti-BJP-Shiv Sena parties into our folds. Talks are still going on with like-minded parties.”