Shiv Sena-BJP seat sharing row: Amit Shah urges Uddhav Thackeray to keep alliance intact

As the deadlock between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the seat sharing row still continues, in an attempt to keep the 25-year-old alliance intact, BJP president Amit Shah had a telephonic conversation with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.

Shah has urged Thackeray to reconsider the seat sharing proposal in which the Shiv Sena has suggested 119 seats for the BJP, 151 for the Sena and 18 seats for the smaller alliance partners, to keep the alliance intact.

Also read: Maharashtra assembly polls: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray suggests new formula; 151 seats for Sena and 119 for BJP

As the tug of war continues, the BJP Parliamentary Board held an informal meeting to discuss the strategy on Sunday evening, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah and other leaders. The Shiv Sena has kept its candidate list ready, while the BJP is said to have shortlisted 130 candidates. 

BJP in charge for Maharashtra Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, “BJP wants the alliance to remain intact and it was decided that efforts should be made to resolve the issue to contest polls with Sena and other alliance partners."

Also read: Sena-BJP seat sharing row: We are not happy with Shiv Sena's proposal; there is no such thing called final proposal, says BJP

Rudy further said, "We discussed 288 seats. If the BJP get seats with better prospects, we will get through. We have given a 'practical' formula to Sena. If the issue is discussed keeping the chief minister's position aside, then the issue will be resolved."

Suggesting a final formula to keep the alliance intact, Thackeray in Sena's executive meet on Sunday said,  "We are making last effort to save the alliance by sacrificing Sena's seats. I am proposing a new formula of 151 seats for Sena and 119 seats for BJP.  Shiv Sena will allocate 18 seats from its own quota to four alliance partners including RPI, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatna, Rashtriya Samaj Party and Shiv Sangram Sanghatna, and will keep BJP quota intact" 

The BJP had refused to accept this saying there is nothing new in what the Sena has offered and they are not happy with it.