Maharashtra Assembly polls: Shiv Sena leaders reach BJP office to salvage alliance

MUMBAI: Senior Shiv Sena leaders on Tuesday held talks with BJP aiming to end the deadlock on seat sharing that is threatening to disintegrate their 25-year-old alliance ahead of the October 15 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Sena group leader in Assembly Subhash Desai, party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut arrived at the BJP office -- Vasant Smriti Bhavan-- in Dadar in central Mumbai around noon and met top BJP leaders on the alliance issue.

BJP's Maharashtra poll in-charge Om Mathur and state party president Devendra Fadnavis were among those present at the meeting.

Fadnavis has convened a meeting of state BJP unit functionaries, district unit presidents, legislators and MPs here today to discuss the political situation ahead of the Assembly polls.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly Eknath Khadse and Leader of Opposition in Council Vinod Tawde are also participating in the meeting.

BJP has already rejected the formula put forth by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray of his party contesting 151, BJP-119 and allies 18 seats for the elections to the 288-member state Assembly.

BJP yesterday made a counter offer seeking 130, a climbdown from earlier 135, but said it would contest all 288 seats if "compelled" to part ways from its oldest ally in the NDA.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting of senior Sena and BJP leaders, Leader of Opposition in state Council Vinod Tawde said both the parties want the alliance to continue.

"It is the desire of Sena and BJP that the alliance continue," Tawde said.

"No leader from either party wants the 25-year-old alliance to break," he said.

"A new formula (on seat-sharing) was discussed today," he said.

However, he did not reveal what the formula was. "A final decision will be taken by today evening after consulting our 'Mahayuti' allies," he said.

"It is the thinking of Sena and also BJP that the alliance continue. The common man wants to defeat Congress-NCP government in the state," Tawde said.

Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, "Both parties today agreed that the alliance should remain. Both parties are firm that the old alliance should continue."

"A new proposal came up today and it will be discussed with our other alliance partners later today," Raut said.

RPI, RSP, SSP and Shivsangram are the other partners of the 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance).