Equal seat-sharing with BJP not possible: Shiv Sena

Firing a fresh salvo at BJP, Shiv Sena on Monday made it clear that it is not going to “bow down” and will not tolerate BJP’s “high-handedness” at treating allies.

After attacking the coalition partner on Saturday in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, the Sena continued it on Monday.

Party chief Uddhav Thackeray speaking to reporters clearly stated that the party is not going to “compromise” on seat-sharing.

He reiterated, they will not accept the equal-seat sharing, offered by BJP.

“Equal seat-sharing with BJP not possible,” BJP had mission 272, what's wrong if we have mission 150,” he said.

But at the same time, he said the party is trying to save the coalition.

Uddhav said, “Trying our best for an alliance with BJP.”

He felt is possible to save alliance, for the sake of the state, for the sake of ‘Hindutva’.

He said, “Don't want to break alliance with BJP as it's for Hindutva.”

“Alliance with BJP isn't just for power, it's for Maharashtra. We can beat Congress & NCP if there is no tug of war for seats,” Uddhav added.

Earlier on Saturday, the Sena intensified the war of words with grand-old ally on the seat sharing and Chief Ministerial candidate for election scheduled next month.

In the party mouthpiece ‘Saamna’, Uddhav has said that excessive lust leads to divorce and the allies in a coalition must dream of a victory first.

“All parties must give up the lust for more seats. To say we will stay in the coalition only if we get so many seats is not right,” Uddhav has said.

A day after, on Sunday, Sena MP Sanjay Raut has said that the chief minister would only be from the Shiv Sena.

“Shiv Sena and BJP relations are good... Chief Minister can be only from our party,” Raut said.

Bitterness arose within the two allies after the alliance put up a grand show in the Lok Sabha elections in May where the Sena-BJP alliance swept the polls.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 23 of the state’s 48 seats while the Sena won 18.

The ruling Congress-NCP alliance won only six seats.

Now, riding on “Modi-wave” BJP wants to contest in equal number of seats as Shiv Sena for the upcoming polls.

In the 2009 state polls, the Sena contested 169 of 288 seats while the BJP was given 119 seats.

Not only that, confrontation also arose with Sena chief eyeing the Chief Minister’s post and the BJP denying it.

Reacting to Raut’s remarks, BJP Spokesperson Madhav Bhandari on Sunday has said, “Talks are stopped... Our workers are angry. Sanjay Raut is not a big leader. The next government will be formed under the BJP's leadership.”

But after realizing that the Shiv chief is in “no-fuss” mode, BJP is trying to damage-control the situation and pacify the coalition partner.

It has been learnt that BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy is likely to meet Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday and try to re-negotiate.

According to BJP sources, the party feels still the coalition can be saved, as Uddhav Thackeray himself, expressed hope of saving the alliance.