<p>Putting up a major show of strength, the Congress-NCP front formally announced the grand alliance in Maharashtra and the seat-sharing formula on Saturday.</p>.<p>The grand alliance called "Maha-Aghadi" has more than 50 political parties, groups and factions.</p>.<p>As decided earlier, of the total 48 seats in the state, the Congress will contest 26 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP 22.</p>.<p>The two 20-year-old allies decided to spare two seats each for smaller parties.</p>.<p>The Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana (SSS) led by farmers' leader Raju Shetti would contest two seats. While the NCP will leave the Hatkanangale seat for him, the Congress gave away the Sangli seat.</p>.<p>The Congress will leave the Palghar-ST seat for Bahujan Vikas Aghadi led by MLA Hitendra Thakur, who is expected to field Baliram Jadhav, a former MP.</p>.<p>The NCP will leave the Amravati seat for Independent MLA Ravi Rana whose wife Navneet Kaur, a former actor, would contest.</p>.<p>The seat-sharing arrangement was announced at a press conference in which leaders including the Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan and his NCP counterpart Jayant Patil were present.</p>
<p>Putting up a major show of strength, the Congress-NCP front formally announced the grand alliance in Maharashtra and the seat-sharing formula on Saturday.</p>.<p>The grand alliance called "Maha-Aghadi" has more than 50 political parties, groups and factions.</p>.<p>As decided earlier, of the total 48 seats in the state, the Congress will contest 26 seats and Sharad Pawar-led NCP 22.</p>.<p>The two 20-year-old allies decided to spare two seats each for smaller parties.</p>.<p>The Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana (SSS) led by farmers' leader Raju Shetti would contest two seats. While the NCP will leave the Hatkanangale seat for him, the Congress gave away the Sangli seat.</p>.<p>The Congress will leave the Palghar-ST seat for Bahujan Vikas Aghadi led by MLA Hitendra Thakur, who is expected to field Baliram Jadhav, a former MP.</p>.<p>The NCP will leave the Amravati seat for Independent MLA Ravi Rana whose wife Navneet Kaur, a former actor, would contest.</p>.<p>The seat-sharing arrangement was announced at a press conference in which leaders including the Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan and his NCP counterpart Jayant Patil were present.</p>
