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An aggressive Shiv Sena on Sunday gave a final seat sharing formula to its 25 year old partner BJP in a bid to survive alliance in the election to the 288 member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly slated for October 15. As per the revised formula, Shiv Sena will contest 151 seats leaving 119 to BJP (which the party had contested to win 46 seats in 2009 assembly poll) and 18 seats to other partners of Maha Yuti including Republican Party of India, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Rashtriya Samaj Paty and Shiv Sangram.
The new formual was revealed by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray here at the meeting of the party's executive members from across the state. "We are ready to offer this for the sake of Maharashtra," Uddhav announced.
Thackeray admitted that the spat over seat-sharing was "unfortunate." Further, he noted that "There is a tug of war in the alliance. What is happening right before elections is unfortunate. Seat distribution is a complicated affair".
Uddhav's final seat sharing formula came after BJP had rejected Shiv Sena's formula of 155: 126 given on Saturday evening. State BJP has given yet another formula whereby Shiv Sena will contest 140 seats, 130 seats by BJP and 18 by other allies of Maha Yuti. However, Shiv Sena simply turned down BJP's formula reiterating its resolve to fulfil Mission 150 during the assembly poll.
At stake is the post of chief minister, which will go to the party with most legislators if the coalition wins.
During 2009 poll Shiv Sena had contested 169 seats. The saffron party today expressed desire to leave 18 seats to Maha Yuti allies from its quota in a bid to continue the alliance to defeat Congress-NCP combine in the state. Uddhav in his speech took a swipe at BJP asking the latter not to take Shiv Sena for ride by recalling old memories.
Uddhav said the seat distribution exercise among the Maha Yuti partners would have completed by this time now and the poll campaign would have started. He however, added that Shiv Sena's list of candidiates is ready and it can be announced at any moment. He clarified that the party is waiting to resolve the deadlock over seat sharing arrangement.
