There is just one day in store before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for US. In the meantime, we can expect a solution to the seat sharing problem.
The latest developments in the ‘self-respect’ war of old allies, Shiv Sena and BJP, have ensured that they both work on their marriage.
At noon, the two parties met the press to say that they are considering various means by which the alliance can be saved.
Addressing a joint press conference, Vinod Tawde of the BJP said both parties were of the view that the alliance should stay together and were working out various proposals. Other parties in the alliance will also be consulted this evening about the seat sharing proposal.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut agreed, saying, “Only BJP and Shiv Sena will decide future of this alliance. Both sides of the opinion that alliance should prevail”.
Earlier in the day, senior leaders of both the parties held talks to end the deadlock on seat sharing that is threatening to disintegrate their 25-year-old alliance ahead of the October 15 Maharashtra Assembly elections. It was also to give considerable time before nominations which end on September 27.
Sena group leader in Assembly Subhash Desai, party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut arrived at the BJP office — Vasant Smriti Bhavan– in Dadar in central Mumbai around noon and met top BJP leaders on the alliance issue.
BJP’s Maharashtra poll in-charge Om Mathur and state party president Devendra Fadnavis were among those present at the meeting.
Fadnavis had convened a meeting of state BJP unit functionaries, district unit presidents, legislators and MPs today to discuss the political situation ahead of the Assembly polls.
Making the perfect timing, Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna also showered petals of praises on BJP.
An editorial in the newspaper today said, “The situation in Maharashtra is good. The horses of Sena-BJP are running fast and are unstoppable. There is no value of Congress-NCP mules.”
“What news is there if the alliance remains? But there is certainly news if it snaps. That is why, some in media are waiting for the alliance to snap,” the editorial said.
In fact Sena too blamed “some in the media” for wanting the alliance to snap through the snap.
“It is said that there is betting of Rs 100-500 crore on whether ‘Mahayuti’ alliance will remain or break,” Sena said through another piece in Saamna adding “media is now part of this betting. A section is waiting for the alliance to break so that it can be sensational news.”
After Uddhav Thackeray’s ‘final offer’ of 119 seats on Sunday, Amit Shah and other top leaders held marathon of meetings in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present. Reportedly, Shah made a “very liberal offer”, climbing down from the initial demand for 135 seats to 130 seats. He also offered to accept the “worst possible seats” which the Sena has not won in the last 25 years.
There is just one day in store before Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for US. In the meantime, we can expect a solution to the seat sharing problem.
