Maharashtra polls: Uddhav Thackeray reaches out to ticket hopefuls who may not get party nomination

Locked in a tussle for supremacy with alliance partner BJP, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray is reaching out to ticket hopefuls who may not get the party nomination, so as to prevent them from raising the banner of rebellion.

What's party's target?
Sena leaders claim that the party wants to put up its best electoral performance in over 90 seats and ensure that it can stake claim to the chief minister's post.
"Uddhavji is conducting interviews and meeting office bearers of various constituencies. He is trying to placate those who may not get tickets," said a Sena legislator. This, the Sena MLA explained, would help reduce rebellions from within the party by those who felt they have been passed over for nominations.

What prompted the move?
"As a party goes on expanding its base, the network of workers and their aspirations increase," he pointed out. Sena leaders admit that the success of the six-party Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha polls has led to an increasing demand for party nominations.
"Uddhavji is asking contenders to sit together and decide on a candidate in order to evolve a consensus and prevent rebellions," said another Sena MLA, adding that "however, what people will do after the nominations have been announced remains to be seen."
Uddhav is also scheduled to address party MPs and legislators in Bandra on Sunday morning.

Is seat row over for Sena?
Riding on its success in Maharashtra due to the Narendra Modi wave, the BJP, which earlier had the status of a minnow in the saffron alliance, is demanding that the previous formula be re-worked to let them contest an equal number of seats as the Sena, after leaving out around 18 to 20 for their four smaller allies. It is also eyeing the chief minister's chair.
This was being contested by the Sena leading to a stalemate in seat-sharing talks. The BJP is trying to shed its underdog status in the alliance and edge out the Sena, which has a much broader political and social base, as the dominant partner.

Can there be a middle path?
"Though the Shiv Sena is unwilling to part with 50% seats, there can be some exchange on the 59 seats and the 19 seats where the Sena and BJP respectively have never won. Instead of merely looking at cornering seats for our parties, putting up winnable candidates must be a priority," said a Sena leader, adding that there was no question of parting with the constituencies held by sitting party MLAs. "We (Shiv Sena and BJP) are ready for an alliance, but the formula needs to be decided," he added.

Are outsiders coming to Sena fold?
On Thursday, Sena also inducted workers from other parties from the Magathane and Dahisar constituencies like former corporators Gajanan Thakre (MNS) and Bhaskar Khursange (NCP), BRP-BMS leader Roshni Gaikwad and Shirish Chogle, whose wife Shilpa is an MNS corporator. Khursange's wife Riddhi is an NCP corporator.