'BJP couldn't have ignored smaller allies in talks with Sena'

A day after its 25-year-old alliance with Shiv Sena ended over seat-sharing deadlock, BJP today said it could not have compromised because it had to take care of "the rights of smaller parties".
Parties such as Swabhimani Paksh, Rashtriya Samaj Paksh and RPI (Athawale) constituted smaller constituents of Sena-BJP led 'Mahayuti'.
Talking to reporters here, BJP General Secretary in charge of Maharashtra Rajiv Pratap Rudy said while it was not possible for Shiv Sena to come down from its demand of 150 seats (out of total 288), it was also not possible for BJP to accept anything less than 130 seats.

"It was almost impossible for BJP to deny rights of smaller parties, which had come with us before the Lok Sabha polls, as far as their share in the seat allocation was concerned," he said.
"We had put forth to Sena in a decent manner that talks can't progress beyond this," the BJP leader said.
"BJP central leadership wanted the alliance to continue but it had authorised the state core team to take the decision considering the situation and also the paucity of time for filing nominations," Rudy said.
Almost after two decades people of Maharashtra got an opportunity to elect a single party government, Rudy said. "We are sure that the people will take the appropriate decision.