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

With no solution on seat sharing in sight, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started looking for a better back up plan in case the seat sharing formula proposed to Shiv Sena doesn't work.

Maharashtra BJP core committee members, on Saturday, 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 viable alternative 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 Friday, late evening 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 that we have cleared our stand that we will not budge from the 150 number. However, none of the parties want to snap the ties and are willing to fight against Congress-NCP in the state.

Meanwhile, BJP sources informed that BJP Parliamentary Committee will meet on Sunday to endorse the names on the first list sent by state BJP.