Maharashtra Assembly polls: Parties in battle of wits over seat-sharing; Sena takes on BJP, NCP battles Congress

MUMBAI: The two main coalitions in Maharashtra were engaged in a battle of wits over seat-sharing, days after the EC notified dates for the assembly polls. Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray refused to concede more seats for BJP, even while saying talks were on and he expected some resolution soon. Across the divide, state deputy CM and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, aired his views of NCP going it alone, even after his party chief Sharad Pawar’s optimism that a deal with Congress would be struck soon.

Indicating the frost in the tieup, BJP spokesman said that party chief Amit Shah will be in Mumbai on Wednesday but would not call on Thackeray. BJP observer for Maharashtra, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, was in Mumbai on Monday but did not meet Thackeray. Rudy is expected to present a final figure to the Sena from BJP’s side. Sources said that it could be anything between 125 and 130.

“We have decided to hold small public meetings to connect with the people and ask them what their expectations are,” BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari added.

Thackeray told reporters in Mumbai that his party had set a mission of 150 (the state assembly has 288 seats). “If BJP had Mission 272 in the LS polls, why can’t we have mission 150? We are trying our best to reach some formula,” he said.


BJP was planning to come out with its own manifesto for the polls. Bhandari pointed out there was nothing new in different manifestoes. Differences were not confined to the Opposition front. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar and his nephew Ajit Pawar differed in their views on a tie up with Congress. Pawar Sr. had said in Kolhapur earlier in the day that the Congress-NCP alliance was well on track and in a couple of days the issue over seat sharing would be resolved. But nephew Ajit Pawar had a different take on the issue.