BJP-Sena's smaller allies seek 80 seats to contest in Maharashtra Assembly polls

While the Shiv Sena and BJP are locked in a tussle over seat-sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the BJP may have to walk the tightrope while contending with the demands of its smaller allies.

These smaller parties, which include Union minister of state and Dalit leader Ramdas Athavale's Republican Party of India (RPI-A), Vinayak Mete's Shiv Sangram, animal husbandry minister Mahadeo Jankar's Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP) and minister of state Sadabhau Khot's Rayat Kranti Sanghatana, have together sought over 80 of the state's 288 Assembly seats. However, the BJP seems to be in a mood to set aside just 18 seats for these parties, who have their pockets of support as sub-regional and caste-based players.

These smaller outfits are also refusing the BJP's demand that their candidates fight using their lotus symbol to "increase their chances of winning."

Athavale told DNA that his party was seeking to contest from at least 10 seats. "However, we will fight as RPI nominees and not use the BJP's symbol," he said, adding that the RPI-A was demanding seats like Chembur, Mankhurd-Shivajinagar, Versova and Malad. In 2014, when the BJP had snapped its alliance with the Shiv Sena, the RPI-A had contested from eight Assembly segments and won none.

"We are also demanding a greater share of power, ensuring the construction of an international memorial for Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at Indu mill in Dadar is completed soon, 5-acre land for the landless, faster completion of SRA projects and a cut-off of 2014 for all slums," added Athavale.

Mete, who is an MLC from the BJP's quota and chairs a committee for the construction of a memorial for Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea, said his Shivasangram was demanding 12 seats, including Versova in Mumbai, where their Bharati Lavhekar is an MLA. In 2014, both Lavhekar and Mete had contested as BJP nominees. However, Mete lost to the NCP's Jaydutt Kshirsagar from Beed. Kshirsagar has defected to the Shiv Sena and is a cabinet minister with chances that the party may nominate him from the seat.

"The Beed seat does not belong to any specific person," added Mete, without naming Kshirsagar, stating he was staking claim to the seat. "(We contested as BJP candidates in 2014 as) our party had not been established. Now, it is in place, so we are planning to contest on our own symbol," he said.

Vijaykumar Hatture, the vice-president, RSP, said they had sought 57 seats for the party from the BJP, but were willing to negotiate.