Maharashtra: With BJP camp sombre, Shiv Sena wants snap polls

With BJP losing assembly elections in 3 major states in North India, Shiv Sena has started putting pressure for snap polls in the state along with Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, if one goes by sheer numbers and statistics, BJP has a rightful claim on at least 160 seats where it either won the elections or was on number 2 during 2014 assembly elections.

On Tuesday night, BJP National President Amit Shah held a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai. Sources informed that a few of the Shiv Sena MLAs have already informed the BJP ministers that Sena was willing to go for assembly polls in April along with Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, Shah did not meet party MLAs as it was told to media persons before his Mumbai visit.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting with elected representatives of BJP at Varsha bungalow. He discussed with them the drought situation and prevailing political situation on the backdrop of recent election results in three states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh. Sources informed that the possibility of snap polls was also discussed during the meeting and Fadnavis has told elected representatives to be ever prepared for the same.

Shiv Sena is believed to have claimed candidature on 155 assembly seats if BJP wants pre-poll alliance for the assembly polls. Interestingly, BJP had won 122 seats on its lotus symbol and one MLA from Rashtriya Samaj Party also was with them after the 2014 assembly elections. There were 60 BJP candidates who lost the assembly elections in 2014 but garners second highest votes after the winning candidate. In these 60 assembly segments where BJP candidates were on number 2, there are 22 seats which were won by Shiv Sena.

It is obvious that if both the parties decide to contest assembly elections in the alliance, BJP would retain the 122 seats which it won in 2014 and would have a claim on 38 assembly segments where BJP candidate was number 2 and non-Shiv Sena candidate won the elections. It means that BJP would have a legitimate claim on 160 seats to start the negotiations. Shiv Sena won 63 assembly segments and there were 69 candidates who were on number 2 but there are 37 seats out of these 69 assembly segments where a non-BJP candidate won the elections. It means that Sena has a legitimate claim on 100 seats including 63 seats which it won in 2014.