Rahul Gandhi arrives in Kolhapur, to unveil Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue

Kolkhapur (Maharashtra) [India], October 5 (ANI): Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reached Kolhapur to participate in several significant events ahead.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's visit to Kolhapur comes ahead of the Assembly elections in the state, scheduled for later this year.

Gandhi is set to participiate in key events in the state including the unveiling of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue at Bhagwa Chowk.

"We are thrilled that Rahul Gandhi will inaugurate the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Whether it's about reservations or inclusivity, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur has addressed every key issue, and I am very pleased that Rahul Gandhi is visiting here," Kolhapur Congress President Satej Patil said while speaking to ANI.

Earlier, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said that the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi will make an announcement on several seats before Dussehra.

Patole said, "We will soon finish this and will make announcements on several seats before Dussehra. Discussion on more than 150 seats has been done. We will decide based on merits. Soon there will be clarity on the seat discussion."

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that every seat was being discussed and reviewed in the Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting as the alliance has to defeat the BJP on every seat in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

"Leaders of both the Left parties came today. All these parties were with us in the Lok Sabha, so there was a discussion on what we could give them in the Assembly elections... Today is the fourth day of discussions. Every seat is being discussed as we have to defeat the BJP on every seat, so every seat is being reviewed," Raut told reporters.

The 288 seats Maharashtra Assembly will go to polls later this year. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the poll dates.

The upcoming Maharashtra election will see a contest between the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress, and the Maha Yuti Alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). (ANI)