BJP, Shiv Sena stick to demand on seats, stalemate may resolve only after Amit Shah talks to Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: The saffron alliance in Maharashtra faces one of its severest test ahead of seat-sharing for assembly polls, despite public statements from BJP and Shiv Sena to the contrary.

BJP insists that Sena must part with 15-19 seats to smaller allies and then share the remaining ‘surplus seats’ with BJP. “The alliance would only happen if the Sena gives its seats to its allies.

We could divide the rest of the surplus seats. Since the Sena had 169 in its kitty during the last elections, they could give 15 to 19 seats. Out of the remaining, we could divide to give both parties 135 seats,” said a senior BJP leader.

The Shiv Sena has, however, dismissed BJP’s claims. Though it would accommodate allies by giving them around 15 seats from its entire quota of seats, it is not willing to contest anything less than 150 seats. “Under no circumstances would we contest less than 150 seats. If such a situation arises then we would prefer to go it alone,” said a Sena leader.

The Sena doesn’t want to contest anything less than 150 seats as it feels it would jeopardise the chances of party chief Uddhav Thackeray to become the chief minister. He is apparently not comfortable of becoming the CM if his party secures less than 130-135 seats. BJP leaders have been privately saying that if the Sena doesn’t budge from its stand, then it would contest the elections by itself.