Amit Shah’s veiled warning to Shiv Sena: BJP workers should aim for 40

MUMBAI: In a veiled warning to alliance partner Shiv Sena ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, BJP chief Amit Shah and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asked party workers to “aim to win at least 40 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats” in the state. Responding to the BJP threat, the Sena said it was ready to “tackle it head on”.

Addressing BJP workers in Latur district, Shah said: “If there is an alliance in the state, then it is fine; we will help our ally, or else we will defeat them (“patak denge”). BJP workers should start work on each and every booth.”

Shah asked party workers not to bother about alliance. “Begin work on every booth so that the BJP wins maximum number of seats.”


Shah compared the 2019 elections with the “third battle of Panipat” in which Maratha forces were defeated by the army of Afghan ruler Ahmed Shah Durrani (Abdali).

Earlier, Fadnavis said that the party workers “should have no confusion over alliance with the Shiv Sena”. “The decision will be taken by the party chief. If there is no alliance, the BJP will contest on all the 48 seats and we are confident that we will win 40 out of the 48 seats.”

Echoing Fadnavis, Shah later said: “We should aim to win at least 40 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra.”

In a statement later, the Shiv Sena said Shah’s “arrogant” comments had exposed the BJP. The BJP has been shown its place by the recent assembly election results in the five states, the Sena said, adding: “By claiming that they will win 40 out of 48 seats, the BJP has shown that it will have an alliance with the EVM.”