MNS talks with BJP complicates seat deals with other allies

The potential entry of the MNS in the BJP-led alliance in Maharashtra has further complicated the seat sharing talks between the BJP and its allies, mainly the Shiv Sena.

The Sena (Eknath Shinde) is actively resisting to give away two of its Lok Sabha seats to the MNS, with the state BJP leadership unable to convince chief minister Shinde, so far. Sources said that home minister Amit Shah may now get involved to resolve the issue during a meeting on Friday night. To join the BJP-led alliance, the MNS has sought two seats, primarily the Mumbai South and either the Nashik or Shirdi Lok Sabha seat.

While the state BJP is keen to have the MNS on board and has in principle okayed the MNS demand, the Shiv Sena is resisting to give away the seats primarily because all the three seats that the MNS is interested in has a Sena (Shinde) candidate vying to contest. The Shinde-led Sena has MPs in Nashik as well as Shirdi who have put pressure on the CM to not allow the MNS to lay claim on these seats. In Mumbai South, Milind Deora has joined the Shiv Sena and while he has been made a Rajya Sabha member, the party is keen that Deora contests from the said seat.