MUMBAI: The BJP’s refusal to accept Shiv Sena’s final offer on seat sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly election has made the 27-year-old alliance’s break up most likely. The alliance can continue only if the RSS convinces the BJP to “settle” the dispute by accepting whatever the Sena was offering, sources said.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday broke his silence and made a “final proposal to save the alliance”. He scaled down his earlier stand to contest 160 out of 288 seats and showed readiness to settle on 151. He also asked the BJP to stick to its previous quota of 119. Uddhav also announced that the Shiv Sena will give 18 seats to four junior partners in the alliance, the Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Shiv Sangram so that the BJP will not have to spare any seat for them.
In a Smart Move, Uddhav Catches BJP Unaware In a sharp contrast to his image as a conciliatory leader, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has emerged as a shrewd politician, after he caught the BJP unaware in a tricky situation. Uddhav has tried to create a picture that he was working for “Hindutva”, whereas the BJP was interested only in power and not in maintaining its loyalty towards its thoughts. Read More |
State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis had demanded 130 seats during a meeting with Uddhav late on Saturday night. “He (Fadnavis) wanted Shiv Sena to contest in 140 seats. I told him I could not agree it. Then he offered me five seats more. I categorically told him that I was the giver and he was the taker. My proposal of 119 seats to the BJP is final to save the alliance. I will be sad if the alliance breaks,” Uddhav said.
The BJP Parliamentary Board in its meeting on Sunday night in Delhi decided to reject Uddhav’s offer. A leader said the party was not in a mood to surrender before the Sena. “We’re ready to face any situation. I hope a decision will be made in two days,” said BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye.
Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse said the party won’t accept Uddhav’s offer.
“We want to exchange 59 seats which the Shiv Sena has never won in 25 years. The offers on alliance could not be made through the media. We need to sit across the table for negotiations,” Khadse said.