Shiv Sena ready to blink, seat row with BJP may end soon

Though the nominations for the Maharashtra assembly polls began on Saturday, a seat-sharing formula continued to elude the Shiv Sena- BJP led six-party rainbow coalition. However, Sena sources indicated that they were willing to concede some more seats to their allies to seal the alliance.

Maharashtra BJP core committee members on Saturday met at the official residence of Eknath Khadse, leader of opposition in assembly, to discuss the issue. The series of discussions held by state leaders in presence of BJP Parliamentary committee members like Rajiv Pratap Rudy, O P Mathur and V Satish did not bring any viable alternative to offer Sena, since the latter has been adamant about the numbers it wants to contest.

The Shiv Sena, which is seeking to assert its pre-eminence and status of a senior partner, is not willing to scale down its insistence on contesting from 150 seats.

Sena sources, who admitted that the party was upset at the BJP not deciding on its demand for more cabinet berths in the Narendra Modi government and seeking to assert itself over the Sena in the alliance by seeking half of the assembly seats, however insisted that they wanted to keep the alliance intact.

"We are willing to concede 14 seats, including seven each for the BJP and the Swabhimaani Paksha (led by Raju Shetti). This will take the BJP's share to 126. It is for them to decide how they accommodate our remaining allies. However, this formula may change later," a senior Sena leader told dna, admitting that they may be willing to concede some more ground.

"Things may ease soon," said another Sena leader, adding that the party was open to exchanging some seats with the BJP. The BJP is insistent that the two parties negotiate on the 59 seats which have never been won by the Sena in the last 25 years and the 19 seats where the BJP has been defeated in the past.

"Backdoor talks are underway," confirmed a former Sena MP, adding that the two parties would have to eventually strike a deal due to limitations, which prevented them from contesting independently and coming to power.

Meanwhile, BJP sources said the party's parliamentary committee will meet on Sunday to endorse the names on the first list sent by state BJP. The party is said to be insisting on at least 130 seats though sources admit that they may be willing to close the deal in the 125 seats range.

"Shiv Sena has proposed 126 (BJP)- 155 (SS)- 7 (Raju Shetty's Swabhimaani Paksha). However, there are three other small parties who have alliance with us. But Sena expects us to share the seats with them from our kitty. If we consider even 3 seats for each party then we will have to share 9 seats. Which leaves only 117 seats for BJP. we are thinking about this formula and trying to come up with some solution," said Vinod Tawde, core committee member and leader of opposition in state legislative council. Tawde added that BJP state president Devendra Fadnavis will speak to Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on this issue, once they came up with some concrete argument.

Uddhav is likely to declare his stance on Sunday when he is due to address a meeting of party MPs and MLAs. However, the delay over seat sharing has irked the smaller allies of the saffron alliance, who are looking at a larger share of the power pie if Mahayuti is voted to power.