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NCP Leader Praful Patel targets Congress over seat sharing; gives them one-day ultimatum

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As the dates for Maharashtra Assembly elections draw near, the face-off between various alliances/parties over seat sharing has intensified. While BJP-Shiv Sena tussle over seat sharing has gained momentum with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepping in to save the 25-year old alliance. NCP leader Praful Patel has warned Congress with a final 'ultimatum' on the seat sharing. NCP leader Praful Patel, on Saturday said ,"We can only give Congress another 24-hours. The situation is very fragile over seat sharing and they need to decide at the earliest." 

Read: Narendra Modi steps in to resolve seat-sharing issue with Shiv Sena before Assembly elections

Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP core committee members also met on Saturday and spent the entire morning and afternoon at B-4, official residence of Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in state legislative assembly. However, the series of discussions held by state leaders in presence of BJP Parliamentary Committee members like Rajiv Pratap Rudy, OP Mathur and V Satish did not bring any solution to offer to Sena, since the latter ally has been adamant about the number. Sena wants to contest on 150 seats across the state and nothing less.

On the other hand, NCP too has stated that 124 seats was their old demand to Congress, their ally in the state government, and they were looking to increase the number in the upcoming polls. "We have always been with Congress and want to continue the grand old alliance.  Sharad Pawar had initiated a debate on the same lines," Patel informed in a press conference. 

He further added, "In 2009, we were given less number of seats. But we accepted the proposal anyway as we had to form a secular alliance. Now, our strength in the Lok Sabha has increased as well as our lead in the last Vidhan Sabha. We allowed Congress to take the chief minister's post in 2009 but now we want more seats in the upcoming Assembly elections." 

Earlier today, Maharashtra Congress chief Manikrao Thakre had stated, "Congress-NCP alliance in Maharashtra could be in trouble as no positive response so far from Sharad Pawar's party to proposals from Congress." 

Responding to this, Patel said, "All options open to us if Congress does not respond." 

Over at the Shiv Sena camp, Aditya Thackeray along with Anil Desai and Subhash Desai met OP Mathur, election in charge in Maharashtra, Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP president. Eknath Khadse, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde were also present. Thackeray junior insisted they had cleared their stand and they were not going to budge from the 150 seats. However, none of the parties want to snap the ties and are willing to fight against Congress-NCP in the state.

Also read: Stalemate continues between Shiv Sena-BJP in dispute over seat sharing

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