Bharatiya Janata Party readies a campaign plan, minus Shiv Sena

The BJP has finalised the blueprint for fighting the battle for Maharashtra on its own even as last minute talks were on to salvage the 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena. The party has also finalised slogans and seats for a highly risky solo run. The details were discussed at the central election committee in Delhi on Sunday.

The BJP has identified 250 of the 288 seats it would field candidates. The rest would be divided among the four smaller allies of the Mahayuti (grand alliance).

While BJP leaders admit that fighting elections in alliance with the Sena would give them an advantage over the ruling Congress-NCP combine, they feel that the BJP would emerge as the single-largest party, if there is a five-cornered contest. In the BJP's assessment, it would gain in urban seats, if it fights on its own.

Sources said if the alliance with Sena is snapped, the BJP's campaign would focus on development, promising a new Maharashtra. If the alliance is in tact, the focus in the run-up to the October 15 election would be to target the Congress-NCP government in the state.

As the standoff showed no signs of ending, a BJP leader said the ball is now in Sena's court. The party has even proposed to the Sena that it part with its "worst seats, which it has never won", BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy said. The party has said that there were 59 seats, which the Sena has never won. The BJP is aware that in case of a solo run, the Sena might withdraw support to the Modi government. But the BJP on its own has 282 seats and so the withdrawal of 18 Sena MPs will not impact the Modi government.