File photo of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray with PM Narendra Modi
After days of tense stand-off between long-time allies BJP and the Shiv Sena over seat sharing for the upcoming polls in Maharashtra, the BJP has finally climbed down.
After a meeting at Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's residence, which sources say was attended by state party leaders like Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawde and Ashish Shelar, former state BJP President Sudhir Mungantiwar said the party wants the alliance with the Shiv Sena to go on.
"We have sent a list of 119 seats to central leadership... 135 seats was just an estimate. We have communicated this to the Sena. Discussions will go on as far as distribution of seats is concerned," he said.
Sources say another meeting to discuss seat sharing was held between BJP President Amit Shah, OP Mathur and Rajiv Pratap Rudy in south Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
The Shiv Sena, emboldened by the BJP's losses in Tuesday's by-elections, had blandly stated that it will contest more seats than the BJP in the state elections.
Tuesday morning's issue of the Sena magazine "Saamna" had cautioned the BJP against taking "voters for granted."
It praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he should not be blamed for the by-election setback. But it also said, "The by-election results are a lesson for the Maharashtra elections," adding, "Each election comes with its tides and tides change after every election. Vidhan Sabha elections cannot be fought on the basis of the Lok Sabha wave."
The sub-text was that the BJP cannot count on the "Modi wave" to win the Maharashtra elections.
Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said his party wanted the 25-year alliance to continue, but on its terms. "In Maharashtra, the chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena and we will contest more seats. There will be no change in that," he had said.
The BJP earlier argued that its superior performance in the national elections four months ago has earned it the right to an equal number of seats to contest. The Sena insisted that it must continue to be the senior partner in the state and contest more seats.
"Our top leadership will take a decision on this issue (seat sharing) and whatever they decide will be based on what's good for the country," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra had said.