Mumbai: Making last minutes effort to save the 25-year-old alliance, the Shiv Sena has sent a new seat sharing proposal to the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday. According to the new proposal, the Sena has offered 130 seats to the BJP, other allies 7 and kept 151 out of 288 seats for itself, said sources.
The Sena has said that the party chief Uddhav Thackeray to be made chief minister if the alliance wins, said sources. The issue could become a bone of contention as the BJP has made it clear that the chief minister will be from the party which wins the maximum number of seats in the polls.
The proposal came after leader of both the parties met at the BJP head quarters to resolve the impasse.
Trouble has been brewing in the 25-year-old alliance as both parties have refused to budge on their demand of seats. Parties are hopeful of arriving at a consensus and will hold another round of meeting in the evening.
Both parties also held a joint press conference signalling that all is well in the alliance and will make efforts to save the alliance started by late Sena founder Bal Thackeray and late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan in 1986.
The BJP had earlier turned down the Sena's proposal of 119 seats and demanded 130 seats in the state polls. On Sunday, the Shiv Sena made a new offer to the BJP by giving them 119 seats, other allies 18 and keeping 151 out of 288 seats for itself.
The Sena has been adamant on his stand of contesting on at least 150 seats.
Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "We want to continue with alliance. Decision will be taken by today evening."
State BJP in-charge Rajiv Pratap Rudy had called the Sena proposal as very liberal.
He said, "We are ready to fight on 130 seats. We are also ready to fight on those seats which Sena has not won in the last 30 years. This is a very liberal proposal and hope Sena considers our proposal."
Late Union Minister Gopinath Munde's daughter Pankaja said, "When they (Bal Thackeray and Gopinath Munde) were alive, parties used to respect their decisions. I am sure same will happen this time."
Even though no final decision has been on the future of the 'Mahayuti' alliance, smaller allies are eyeing either of the two big players, which offer them maximum seats.
Before the polls, the BJP has the option of tying up with Raj Thackeray's MNS.
The decision on the BJP-Sena alliance will also seal the fate of 15-year-old Congress-NCP alliance. The NCP might also contest alone if BJP and Shiv Sena decide to contest separately.
The BJP and Shiv Sena need to find a solution soon as the last date of filing nomination is September 27.
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