Maharashtra polls: Shiv Sena agrees to give 130 seats to BJP

In a deft move the Shiv Sena has agreed to give to the BJP 11 seats taking its tally to 130 from 119, however the BJP’s headaches are not over yet. The Sena while giving 11 seats to the BJP has made it clear that it wont bring its tally down from 151, there by leaving only 7 seats for the four allies, RPI (A), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) and Shiv Sangram.

The Sena has told the BJP that the latter should convince the allies to be content within the 7 seats or if the BJP wants the allies to get more seats then it should give those from its quota of 130.

While all the four parties are angry, the Sena and BJP is working to ensure the SSS doesn’t quit the alliance. The arrangement that is being talked about among the Sena and BJP is that the SSS could be given the maximum seats out of the 7, while the RPI (A) should not be given any seats. However the RPI(A) could be convinced to stay in the alliance if the party is assured of two state Minister posts if the Sena-BJP comes to power.

Similarly Vinayak Mete of the Shiv Sangram could also be given a ministerial post if his party doesn't ask for a seat. There is however no clarity on what would happen to the RSP and whether RSP leader Mahadev Jankar is also being promised a deal of a ministerial post if he let goes his party's stand of getting more seats.