Maharashtra polls: BJP’s ‘liberal offer’ to Shiv Sena

Mumbai/New Delhi: As the Shiv Sena remai-ned firm on donning the role of big brother in Maharashtra politics and refused to give more Assembly seats to its ally of 25 years, the BJP, the latter made a “very liberal offer” of scaling down from its earlier demand of 135 seats. The saffron party, said it is prepared for five less and even accept “the worst possible seats” that the Sena has not won in the last 25 years.

BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday spoke to Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray in a bid to salvage the alliance and told him that his party was ready to scale down its demand to 130. After the conversation between the two leaders, speculation was rife that the Sena could agree to give three or four more seats to the BJP. “Mr Shah has spoken to Sena chief and that itself indicates that we are very very eager to have the alliance... We are very keen that the alliance exists,” BJP general secretary in charge of Maharashtra Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

He, however, added, “In a contingent situation that the BJP is compelled not to contest with the Shiv Sena, we would go it alo-ne on all 288 seats, but we will prefer that the Shiv Sena comes along.” The Sena had earlier offered 119 seats to the BJP while it wants to contest on 151, leaving 18 for the smaller allies. The BJP has rejected the proposal. According to sources Sena, apprehends that contesting more seats could improve the BJP’s prospects.

Meanwhile Congress, NCP tiff over seats resolved

After a hard bargain, the Congress and the NCP have decided to come together in the “interest of Mahara-shtra” and resolve the seat-sharing issue for the October 15 Assembly polls. While the Congress has indicated that ally may be given more than 124 seats, Chief Mini-ster Prithviraj Chavan said on Monday that “options are open.” But the current mood in the two parties is to fight the battle together agai-nst the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

AICC sources indicated that the NCP could be given six to eight more seats.Accordingly, senior leaders of the two parties Mr Chavan, PCC chief Manikrao Thakre, Ashok Chavan, Narayan Rane (Congress), Praful Patel, deputy CM Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) will meet in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Congress is willing to give more than 124 seats to the NCP. Mr Thakre said this after a meeting with AICC scre-ening committee chairman for Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence.