Maharashtra Polls: Smaller parties may lose stake in seat-sharing after Sena-BJP truce

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena and BJP may have officially announced a patch up on Tuesday afternoon, but the contentious issue of seat sharing within the Grand Alliance remained unresolved. For, the stitching together of an almost torn political relationship between the two Saffron parties appears to have come at the cost of smaller parties who are set to lose out on some seats which they were being promised earlier.

Following the afternoon announcement by BJP's Vinod Tawde and Sena's Sanjay Raut regarding a compromise worked out by their parties, the speculation in political circles was that the BJP's desired 11 seats will partially come from the quota of smaller parties as no indication of Sena giving up its own share was made by the party leaders. While both Tawde and Raut kept mum on the specifics of it, voices of the leaders behind the four small parties grew increasingly assertive following rumours of their quota being reduced.

"We expect at least 20 seats to be kept aside for the four of us. I have demanded 14 seats for my party, but BJP is willing to give three and Sena four. But the final details will only be worked out by tomorrow morning, following an all party meeting," explained Mahadev Jankar of the Rashtriya Samaj Party. Raju Shetty of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, who was insistent till recently for 12 seats, said he will settle with seven seats. Shiv Sangram leader Vinayak Mete said, "During the negotiations, we believe the BJP and Sena will take our concerns into account," he said.