Shiv Sena's latest: Keeps 155 for self, gives 126 to BJP

BJP furious and internally discussing its viability

The Shiv Sena on Saturday offered a new seat-sharing formula, whereby it will contest 155 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will get 126 and the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana seven. By this, the Sena wants to send out a message that it won’t compromise on its ''Mission 150 '' for the elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly slated for October 15.

Further, the Sena asked the BJP to leave at least 11 seats to other Maha Yuti allies —Republican Party of India, Rashtriya Samaj Party and Shiv Sangram from its quota.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is not ready to give more seats and leave party's claim over chief minister's post, will make a formal announcement on Sunday on whether to continue its alliance with the BJP at a meeting.

A Sena leader, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard:  ''The BJP should not treat Sena alike other NDA (National Democratic Alliance) allies, as it has remained with it during good and bad times. The seat-sharing agreement should be based on mutual trust. The BJP did not even consult Sena during the removal of the Maharashtra governor or the appointment of the new governor. The Sena is keen to maintain its alliance with BJP but not ready to sacrifice its pride.''

The BJP had earlier demanded that both the main parties in the coalition should contest 135 seats each but it was rejected by the Sena.

BJP general secretary O P Mathur, who last night met Sena youth wing chief Aditya Thackeray, said it had not received the Sena's new offer. Mathur told mediapersons: "There is no new proposal from the Sena. The alliance partner can come and talk to us. We will go to Delhi with our list (of candidates) on Sunday.” He left for Delhi to attend a meeting of the party's central parliamentary board slated for Sunday.

The state BJP’s core committee is holding a series of meetings to discuss various seat-sharing options. Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde said it has been the BJP's endeavour to maintain its 25-year-old alliance with the Sena intact and further strengthen the Maha Yuti in a bid to defeat the Congress-led government in the state.

Tawde said the BJP and Sena should discuss exchange of 59 seats where the Sena had never won since 1990, and 19 seats, which the BJP had never bagged.