Maharashtra polls: BJP President Amit Shah to discuss strategy on Tuesday

Main discussion is expected to be about fighting assembly poll alone or seeking more seats from Shiv Sena

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Maharashtra leaders will meet with newly-appointed national president Amit Shah on July 15 and discuss preparations for the forthcoming state Assembly poll slated for October.

Maharashtra BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis, leader of opposition in the legislative council Vinod Tawade, leader of opposition in the Assembly Eknath Khadse, former state unit chief Sudhir Mungantiwar and party legislator and daughter of late leader, Gopinath Munde, Pankaja Munde are expected to discuss the BJP playing a lead role and not second fiddle to ally Shiv Sena in the coming Assembly poll. After winning 23 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, the chorus within the BJP is growing to seek at least 15 to 20 seats more than the 119 it contested in the 2009 Assembly poll or go solo in the Assembly poll.

A senior BJP leader, who confirmed the core committee’s meeting with Amit Shah, told Business Standard: “In its recent meeting, the committee has already taken a decision to gear up poll preparations in all 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra. This is to be ready for going solo or with the Shiv Sena. In any case, the ruling Congress and Nationalist Congress Party alliance had trailed in 240 Assembly seats in the general election. The BJP has increased its presence in all sections of society and across the state. The 169-119 seat seat-sharing formula between BJP & Shiv Sena will have to be tweaked as there are three other members of the MahaYuti grand alliance comprising Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and Rashtriya Samaj Party. If these parties will have to be accomodated, the BJP alone will not release seats from its quota. The Shiv Sena will also have to give up a few seats.”

The leader said Amit Shah was well-versed with Maharashtra politics and his social engineering model would help the party to win more seats.

Another leader said the core committee would present a detailed report on preparations launched at various levels for the Assembly poll. “Already, party workshops are being conducted region-wise, covering all 288 seats. BJP ministers will be given special responsibility in all 35 districts and in the 36th district, Palghar. Simultaneously, booth-wise poll management has been proposed. Shah's guidance will be sought in this regard,” the BJP leader noted.