Shiv Sena offers BJP 135+18 seats in peace deal

NEW DELHI: The Shiv Sena has conveyed to the BJP brass a compromise formula for the assembly elections that will allow 135 seats to the Sena and 153 seats for BJP, 18 of which will have to be earmarked for smaller three allies, a source said. Sena’s suggestion for a ‘kangroo quota’ from the larger BJP share comes amid the public sparring over seatsharing between the partners. According to the proposal conveyed to the BJP central leadership and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis two days ago, Sena will not mind if BJP prevails on smaller allies to contest on its symbol, the source said.

With the Election Commission set to announce the poll schedule soon, the Sena formula is a last-ditch effort to avert a split in the alliance. The formula was conveyed to BJP after it was offered 128 seats. The Udhav Thackeray-led party has also lined up a contingency plan by shortlisting candidates for all 288 seats in case the BJP opts for a solo run, as it did in the 2014. Suspicion of a repeat of such a plan prompted senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday to back party minister Diwakar Raote's warning that the alliance would break if the main allies don’t contest 144 seats each, the source said.

The Sena proposal means 18 extra seats for BJP which it could distribute to RPI (Athawale), Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Shiv Sangram Party.