The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have agreed to contest equal number of Lok Sabha seats in the state. Congress President Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have blessed the 50-50 seat-sharing formula, said sources from within the parties.

Maharashtra sends 48 representatives to the Lok Sabha, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh. Currently, the Congress and the NCP have four and two MPs from the state.

"The formal announcement of an alliance is likely to be made in Delhi in the first week of January," said a source requesting anonymity. The 2019 model code of conduct for the general elections is likely to be announced by the end of February or in the first week of March.

"We had several meetings with the Congress party and an agreement has been sealed for 40 out of 48 seats amicably. The remaining eight Lok Sabha seats will either be equally shared by both parties or will be given to our smaller allies in the state. Presently, we have got more MPs than Congress so we should get equal number of seats. Strength should be the criteria for seat sharing," said Nawab Malik, NCP spokesperson.

Sources said if smaller allies are on board, then Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksh president Narayan Rane, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan's Raju Shetti will be given tickets from NCP quota. Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar, Bahujan Samaj Party and Communist Party of India will be accommodated from Congress quota.

But state Congress chief Ashok Chavan said, "We have not yet agreed to share equal number of seats. We have a strong grass-roots network. Besides, the victory of three Hindi heartland states point to a Congress resurgence."