Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Thursday downplayed speculations of a likely split between his party and the Shiv Sena ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, saying the constraint of time is causing anxiety as only 48 hours are left for the nominations.
"There is no instruction from the central leadership. The state unit of the BJP is in consultation with the Shiv Sena leaders, the talks are on. The only thing, which is creating all these speculations and anxiety, is the constraint of time because hardly less than 48 hrs are left till the final nominations can be put in," Rudy told ANI here.
"But we will make the best endeavor in the interest of the state of Maharashtra to see that the alliance takes place keeping the constraint of time in mind," he added.
Meanwhile, Prem Shukla, the editor of Shiv Sena's official mouthpiece 'Saamna' said there is no doubt over the fact that the alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena will stay intact. He added that both parties will discuss the seat-sharing issue and find a way out ahead of the assembly polls.
"There is no question of breaking of 'Mahayuti' because the elections are near and every party is concerned. That's why issues were raised regarding the seat sharing but Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and the BJP leadership decided two days ago only to maintain the Mahayuti," said Shukla.
Expressing confidence that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will remain intact, Shukla further said four new parties have also been included in the alliance and added that talks are going on as to how to do justice with them.
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Shukla was, however, critical of the BJP which is firm on its stand to contest in at least 130 seats.
"There is no point blaming the Shiv Sena over seats as they have already given seats. So, the BJP should refrain from giving such statements," he said.
The 25-year-old alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena is in all likelihood headed for a formal split after neither side could reportedly come to an agreement on seat sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly polls.
According to reports, the Shiv Sena had demanded 151 seats for itself, leaving 127 for the BJP. Thirteen seats had been offered to the smaller parties. The Sena had proposed this new formula at the talks that were held late on Wednesday night.
Maharashtra will go to polls on October 15 while the counting of votes will take place on October 18. There are 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra.