The assembly election in Maharashtra has been sounded. Less than a month is left in the voting, before that there is a tussle between the Shiv Sena and the BJP over seat sharing. There are 288 assembly seats in the state and it is believed that a big announcement can be made today regarding the seat sharing. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena’s attitude is seen. The party has compared the issue of seat-sharing with the sharing of India-Pakistan. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said, ‘This is a big Maharashtra, which is 288 seats divided, it is even more terrible than the partition of India-Pakistan. If we had been sitting in opposition instead of being in government, today the picture would have been different. Whatever decision we will take on the issue of seats, you will be informed about it.
According to party sources, a consensus has been reached between the BJP and Shiv Sena on the formula of 150-120 seats, but currently there is a tussle between the two parties for seats in important cities like Pune and Nashik. Shiv Sena has said that the next 24 hours are very important for the alliance. All the sitting MLAs in Pune and Nashik are from BJP. Shiv Sena wants two seats in Pune and at least one seat in Nashik. Meanwhile, the BJP is determined to give tickets to all the existing MLAs in both these cities. In fact, the Shiv Sena is fearing that it will lose its presence if it does not contest in these two important cities. A senior state BJP official said, ‘Both the parties have agreed on the formula of 150-120 seats. 18 seats will be given to other smaller parties of the Grand Alliance. However, talks of the alliance are stuck with Shiv Sena’s demand to give something in Nashik and Pune.
The BJP has now demanded to contest one seat each in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of the Konkan region to cut the Shiv Sena stake. There is not a single BJP MLA in both these districts. Another issue of differences between the two parties is two seats in Mumbai and one seat in Osmanabad district of Marathwada. It is being told that both parties want to reach this agreement before the visit of Union Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah on 26th September. If a compromise is reached between the two parties, Amit Shah can visit Matoshri, the home of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Voting on 288 seats in Maharashtra is scheduled on 21st October and results will be declared on 24th October. Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that an official announcement of the seat sharing agreement would be made at the right time. He had said that he is equally concerned about the issue of alliance with Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra polls: Shiv Sena said- Seat sharing of 288 seats is more terrible than Ind-Pak partition
