In the 2004 assembly polls, the Congress had contested 157 of the 288 seats while the NCP contested on 127 seats, leaving the rest to allies. The NCP had won 71 seats while the Congress had managed to win 69 seats.

In the Lok Sabha election, the Congress contested 25 of 48 seats and won 17 seats while the NCP managed to win only eight of 21 seats that it contested.

It is on the basis of its performance in the April-May general elections that the Congress plans to stake claim on almost 170 seats this time.

Maharashtra goes to polls Oct 13.