Maharashtra: Shiv Sena may agree to cede turf to BJP as big brother

  • | Tuesday | 10th September, 2019

Shiv Sena has dropped sufficient hint that in view of changed political equations it is no more a big brother but prepared to play second fiddle in a bid to remain in power. After discarding 144:144 seat-sharing formula pressed by Sena, the BJP has put forth new proposals for an alliance. In the past too, the BJP and Shiv Sena had fought assembly poll on 171:117 seat-sharing formula in 1999 and 2004. In addition to this, one more formula is being considered wherein the BJP fights in 165 seats, Shiv Sena gets 106 and 18 contested by BJP allies. A senior BJP minister on a condition of anonymity told DNA, ''BJP will contest more assembly seats compared to Shiv Sena.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena are expected to soon close a seat-sharing deal for the ensuing assembly election slated for October. Shiv Sena has dropped sufficient hint that in view of changed political equations it is no more a big brother but prepared to play second fiddle in a bid to remain in power. On its part, the BJP has clearly indicated that it will have an upper hand in seat adjustment especially in wake of its spread across the state and its presence in almost all sections of the society. After discarding 144:144 seat-sharing formula pressed by Sena, the BJP has put forth new proposals for an alliance. The BJP and its allies, who will have to contest on the party flag, together will fight 153 seats leaving 135 to Shiv Sena. Both the parties believe that the total of these two numbers adding up to nine is lucky to win the election. In the past too, the BJP and Shiv Sena had fought assembly poll on 171:117 seat-sharing formula in 1999 and 2004. In 2009 election, the two parties had stitched up a new 169:119 seat-sharing arrangement. Another formula being explored is wherein the BJP contests 160 seats, 110 by Shiv Sena and 18 by BJP allies including Republican Party of India (Athawale), Rashtriya Samaj Party (Mahadev Jankar), Rayat Kranti Sanghatana (Sadabhau Khot) and Shiv Sangram (Vinayak Mete). In addition to this, one more formula is being considered wherein the BJP fights in 165 seats, Shiv Sena gets 106 and 18 contested by BJP allies. A Handshake Soon Talks are led by BJP’S Chandrakant Patil and Shiv Sena's Subhash Desai The BJP and its allies, who will have to contest on the party flag, together will fight 153 seats leaving 135 to Shiv Sena Both parties believe the total of these two numbers adding up to nine is lucky to win the election Uddhav Thackeray had said his party wants power to expedite development and thereby dropped sufficient hint of a tie-up BJP allies include the Republican Party of India led by Ramdas Athawale The BJP and Shiv Sena declined to comment. However, a Sena leader cited that party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday in the presence of PM Narendra Modi had said his party wants power to expedite development in the state and thereby dropped sufficient hint that the alliance is a foregone conclusion. The BJP is represented by revenue minister and state party chief Chandrakant Patil and water resources minister Girish Mahajan while veteran Sena leader and industries minister Subhash Desai is delegating on behalf of his party. A senior BJP minister on a condition of anonymity told DNA, ''BJP will contest more assembly seats compared to Shiv Sena. Negotiations are currently underway also for the exchange of seats between the two parties. Winnability is the sole criteria being considered during seat adjustment. Patil and Mahajan held talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 18 seats to be left for BJP allies.'' He informed that after reaching at an understanding between the two parties, BJP working president JP Nadda is likely to meet Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. This comes in the backdrop of a collapse in the grand political tie-up between Prakash Ambedkar led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Saturday. The two parties failed to conclude seat-sharing deal over differences.

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