Consensus on seat-sharing eludes Maha Yuti partners

Saffron camp led by Shiv Sena-BJP finds it difficult to fulfill demands of ambitious allies

The Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine is finding it tough to reach a consensus on seat-sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly polls with other partners in the Maha Yuti (grand alliance). Though these partners — Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghata, Republican Party of India, Rashtriya Samaj Party, and Shiv Sangram — are keen to once again ride on the Modi wave like they did during the Lok Sabha polls, not many are willing to back down from their ambitious demands for seats.

Even the two major alliance partners, Shiv Sena and the BJP,  haven’t reached an understanding on seat-sharing between them. Shiv Sena, which had contested 169 seats in the 2009 Assembly polls, has shown its reluctance to leave more than 119 seats to BJP, which it fought last time. The BJP, which does not want to play second fiddle especially after winning 23 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, is pressing for 144 seats.

Senior Sena and BJP leaders, who did not want to be identified, conceded that seat-sharing is a complex exercise and it will take some more time. They told Business Standard that the Maha Yuti leaders would again meet in the first week of September.

Meanwhile, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, whose chief Raju Shetty has been elected for two successive rounds from the Hatkalangade seat, has made a strong case for 38 Assembly seats largely from the sugarcane-rich western Maharashtra. During his meeting of Maha Yuti partners on Wednesday evening, Shetty took strong objection to the red-carpet rolled out by the Shiv Sena and BJP for the disgruntled leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. He warned that encouraging ‘ayaram gayaram’ culture would send a wrong signal to the voters. Shetty insisted that the Sena-BJP alliance should not waste time but quickly seal the seat-sharing deal.

On the other hand, the Republican Party of India led by Rajya Sabha member Ramdas Athavale, is pressing for 38 Assembly seats for his party. However, he also hinted that he might settle for 20 seats.

The Rashtriya Samaj Party led by Mahadev Jankar, who hails from the Dhangar community, has demanded 30 seats. Jankar is currently hogging the limelight as he has been at the forefront to press for the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribes list.

Former NCP leader Vinayak Mete, who heads the Shiv Sangram, has demanded 15 seats.

Meanwhile, Jankar said on Thursday that 25-30 seats each would suffice for his party (Rashtriya Samaj Party), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghata, Republican Party of India, and Shiv Sangram. However, the other parties have objected to Jankar's suggestion.