U-turn? BJP rejects Shiv Sena's offer of 119 seats for Maharashtra poll, says report

The seat-sharing row between BJP and Shiv Sena for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections took a new turn as BJP rejected Shiv Sena’s offer of contesting 119 seats, according to TV reports. [caption id=“attachment_1720119” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] BJP rejected Shiv Sena’s offer of 119 seats in the Maharashtra assembly. AFP[/caption] In the 2009 Assembly polls, the BJP had contested in 119 seats while Shiv Sena fought in 169 seats. Despite this development, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “Talks are on going, I am sure we will have a positive outcome to all of this.” BJP’s decision is also a U-turn from their earlier stand in which they had settled to 119 seats in the assembly, according to this _Firstpost_ report . Amit Shah had also given his nod for continuing the alliance with Shiv Sena despite the fact that the regional outfit is unwilling to part with more seats. “We have communicated our decision to the Shiv Sena that we will not insist on 135 seats but the winnability factor should be considered,” a BJP leader had said. Shiv Sena leaders had insisted that it would not contest less than 150 seats. “The saffron alliance is based on Hindutva ideology and it seems that the BJP is realizing it now. We have already made our stance clear to the BJP. We also want the saffron alliance to fight the polls but we will not part more seats to BJP,” said Diwakar Raote, a senior Sena leader. Political observers also said that the by-poll results have come as a major relief to Sena. “Following the by-poll results the BJP has climbed down its demand which means that it has buckled under pressure from the Shiv Sena. The BJP fears that if it fights the assembly election on its own and gets lesser seats, then the Sena’s stance of no Modi wave will be vindicated and it will further weaken the BJP,” said Prakash Bal, a political analyst. On the other hand, while addressing a rally at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra on Friday, Amit Shah had said, “I appeal to both the parties to solve the issue of seat sharing. We have taken two steps ahead, now the Shiv Sena should also come up with two steps forward. We need to dislodge the corrupt Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra to achieve the BJP’s campaign for a Congress-free India.”