BJP poll drubbing: For Maha tie-up, Sena could demand 50 pc

The Shiv Sena, buoyed by the BJP's dismal performance in the Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, is likely demand at least 50 per cent of seats in the event of the two bickering saffron parties opting for an alliance.

A senior Sena leader, requesting anonymity, said party chief Uddhav Thackeray, with his Ram temple pitch, had already started a "parallel movement" to expand its base across the country.

"Apart from the Ram temple issue, there is a lot of resentment among people against the BJP government. Bad policies, issues like demonetisation, bad implementation of GST has hurt traders and middle class citizens," the source claimed.

 

The source added that the BJP's dismal performance in the Assembly polls had corroborated the Sena's stand on growing dissent among people.

When asked for a reaction, Sena legislator Anil Parab said party chief Thackeray has already decided to go solo in all upcoming polls.

"Nobody, except Uddhav ji can confirm if his decision on an alliance with the BJP will change," he said.

The source further said, "The Sena and BJP realise it would be hard to win the upcoming polls if both parties fight separately, especially because the Congress and the NCP have confirmed their alliance. However, for our alliance to happen, it is most likely that the BJP will have to part with 50 per cent of the seats in the state."

Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said the Sena president had publicly announced his decision of not forging an alliance with the BJP and, thus, the question of seat sharing talks with the BJP does not arise.

Reacting to the resounding drubbing the BJP received in the Assembly polls, Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut sarcastically said a "signal is enough for the wise".

He also advised the BJP to introspect over the results.

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters, BJP state unit chief Raosaheb Danve said the party accepted the Assembly poll verdict with humility, adding that they were fought on local issues and would not have an impact in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"The assembly election results will not have any adverse impact on the BJP's ties with the Sena. Assembly election results in one state does not increase bargaining power of parties in another state," Danve said.