Cracks in BJP-Sena alliance over seat sharing in Maha
16 Sept 2014 5:58 AM IST
Situation took a turn for the worse on Sunday when the Maharashtra BJP unit called off seat-sharing talks with its ally Shiv Sena after its chief, Uddhav Thackeray, questioned the credibility of ‘Modi wave’ in his interview with a television channel. Reacting to Thackeray’s statement, Maharashtra BJP president, Devendra Fadnavis, expressed his displeasure and said, ‘There is huge discontent among our rank and file over the statements made by the Sena leadership against our PM. We will not make any effort anymore to talk to them on seat sharing.’
However, later, to salvage situation, Thackeray gave a statement saying, ‘Talks are still on and till the decision on alliance is reached, I will not say anything negative. We are in touch with state BJP president and OP Mathur, in-charge of party’s affairs in Maharashtra, over seat sharing.’ Differences cropped up in the 25-year-old coalition when Shiv Sena refused to review the 169-119 seat sharing formula followed so far. This time the BJP, however, wants to contest on 135 seats, which Thackeray is not willing to concede. Thackeray on Monday has officially rejected the ruling party’s demand and hinted at even going alone.
In a pre-election boost to the NCP, nine independent legislators, including a minister, on Monday joined the party which said it was firm on contesting 144 out of the total 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra going to the polls next month.
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that the ball is now in the Congress’ court. The new entrants included minister Dilip Sopal, who wasn’t present during the induction, but announced his entry via mobile phone call to Ajit Pawar.
The other legislators who joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Monday were Mansingh Naik-Shirala, Balasaheb Patil-Karad, Makrand Patil-Wai, Ramesh Thorat-Daund, Babasaheb Patil-Ahmedpur, Suresh Deshmukh-Wardha, Sharad Gavit-Navapur and Sahebrao Patil-Amalner.
The NCP also made it clear that it was firm on contesting 144 seats for the 15 October polls.
‘The top leaders of Congress and NCP held talks on seat-sharing in Delhi. We are awaiting response. The ball is in their court,’ Ajit Pawar told reporters after inducting the nine independent legislators into NCP.
‘We are firm on 144 seats,’ he said. Asked if there were plans to contest polls sans Congress, he said, ‘So far there are no such plans.’ When pointed out that Congress leaders were scrutinising candidates for other seats which are in NCP quota, Pawar said, ‘If that is the case, we also won’t keep quiet. Anyways, it is their (Congress) right to undertake such an exercise.’
‘There is a trend seen in workers of all parties to go independent,’ he said, in response to a query. Senior NCP leaders feel that there should be no division of secular votes, Pawar said.
Meanwhile, the NCP on Monday also inducted ex-legislator Rajan Teli, a former aide of Congress state campaign chief Narayan Rane. NCP state president Sunil Tatkare evaded a direct response to queries on Teli’s name allegedly figuring in a murder case.
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