Congress May Hit 100 in Lok Sabha With Maharashtra Rebel’s Return

**Congress May Hit 100 in Lok Sabha With Maharashtra Rebel’s Return**

**Maharashtra** | **Lok Sabha** | **Congress** | **Rebellion** | **Return** | **NDTV**

The Congress party is set to cross the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, with the return of 12 rebel lawmakers from Maharashtra.

The rebels had split from the Congress in 2019 to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition in Maharashtra. They had been demanding the removal of then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who belonged to the Shiv Sena, a key ally of the Congress.

After Thackeray’s resignation in June, the rebel lawmakers have been in talks with the Congress about their return. The party leadership had been hesitant to welcome them back due to concerns over their loyalty.

However, with the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2024, the Congress is keen to strengthen its presence in Maharashtra, where it has a strong base. The return of the rebels will give the party a significant boost in the state.

The rebels’ return is also a setback for the BJP, which has been trying to woo back disgruntled Congress lawmakers in other states. The BJP’s tally in the Lok Sabha will drop to 301, while the Congress’s will rise to 100.

The return of the rebels has raised questions about the stability of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. The government is already facing a crisis with the Shiv Sena threatening to withdraw its support.

The Congress is hoping that the return of the rebels will help it regain its lost ground in Maharashtra and emerge as a strong contender in the upcoming elections.