Maharashtra assembly election: Lust for seats will snap ties, Shiv Sena tells BJP

MUMBAI: An editorial in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, on Saturday using a risque metaphor to chide the party’s allies for asking for too many assembly seats has triggered fresh tension in the Sena-BJP alliance.
“Too much demand for sex can lead to divorce,” remarked the Sena mouthpiece, referring to a recent family court verdict. The comment was an indication that the Sena had toughened its stand following escalating pressure from the BJP for more seats.
READ ALSO: Single-phase assembly poll in Maharashtra on Oct 15, results on Oct 19
The Sena also cancelled the seat-distribution talks on Saturday, citing party president Uddhav Thackeray's “prior commitments” as reason, thus escalating tensions further.
Significantly, participating in an open-house discussion hosted by a Hindi TV news channel, Uddhav on Saturday reiterated the Sena’s claim to CMship. The state BJP hasn't taken kindly to his statement.
READ ALSO: Uddhav Thackeray pre-empts ally BJP, says he wants to become chief minister
The state BJP was miffed with the Sena for the Saamna editorial. “The piece was in bad taste. Saamna can't write such stuff without Matoshree's knowledge and support,” said a key state BJP leader. “The editorial reeks of Sena's arrogance and lack of refinement,” the functionary added.

The leader comment has offered “sage advice” to the BJP, and junior allies such as the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, the Rashtriya Samaj Party, the Shiv Sangram Sanghatana and the RPI. Stating that they must exercise restraint while demanding a greater share of seats, Saamna said, “The allies must contest seats where they have political strength. Our aim should be to de-throne the ruling DF from office in the assembly elections. The question of CMship and power-sharing should be resolved after the Sena-BJP alliance assumes office,” Saamna said.
The time-tested formula in the saffron alliance is 169 seats for the Sena and 119 for the BJP. This time, the state BJP wants 15 seats more from the Sena. However, a section in the BJP is insisting that the Sena should be made to agree to a 50:50 formula after allocating seats to other allies.
Talking to mediapersons, Sanjay Raut, MP and executive editor of Saamna, vehemently turned down the BJP's demand for more seats. The Sena wants the time-tested formula to be kept intact, he said.

Uddhav Thackeray (left) with Narendra Modi in an election rally during the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.
The formula was finalized by “great leaders” such as Balasaheb Thackeray, Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani, Raut said. “If the BJP still wants more seats then the state assembly's strength will have to be increased,” he added.
With the Sena toeing a tough line, the Maharashtra BJP on Saturday finalised its first list of 80 candidates and sent it to the party leadership for its approval. The list will be made public in a day or two, said senior state BJP leader Vinod Tawde.
The Maharashtra BJP leaders held talks with party bigwigs in New Delhi via video conferencing on Friday and briefed them on the Sena's adamant stance on sharing of seats, it is learnt.
Meanwhile, openly expressing his desire to become the chief minister, Uddhav on Saturday asked the electors to give him a chance. He said the “face” that will rule the state in the event of the saffron alliance coming to power would be from the “Shiv Sena only”.
“I want the people to give me a chance and they will not be given a chance to complain,” he said at the discussion hosted by the news channel.
The Sena president, in the same breath, said he was not dreaming of the CM’s post, but would not shy away from responsibility.
“It is for the people to decide if they trust me. They will decide whom they want as the face (CM). I am not hankering after any post but will not shy away from responsibility either,” he said.
Uddhav said questions were often raised about his leadership qualities, “but I am Balasaheb's son and will never shy away from responsibilities”.
Asked about the delay in formalizing a seat-sharing pact with BJP, the Sena leader said “there is no problem from my side”.
“Talks with BJP for seat sharing are on. The seats which we will not contest will go to BJP,” he said.
“Every party wants to expand its base and decisions should be taken on the basis of ground realities. Ours is a 25-year-old alliance, but it is good if people remain within their limits,” he said.
In the Lok Sabha polls, Uddhav said, people had voted for a 'face' (Modi) for change, and the Sena's contribution in the victory in Maharashtra cannot be ignored.
“Did the Modi wave show in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Orissa and West Bengal? It depends on alliance partners as well. Modi is Prime Minister of our alliance,” he said.
According to some reports, Uddhav also said, “We too live near the seafront. We have seen many waves. We are not afraid of waves.” This was an apparent reference to the BJP’s demand for more seats in view of the ‘Modi wave’ seen during the LS polls. The BJP won 23 seats in the LS polls in the state as against Shiv Sena's 18.
To a question on the issue of a separate Vidarbha state, a cause being supported by BJP, he said people wanted development and there was no agitation going on for separate statehood there.
READ ALSO: Manmohan Singh to be Cong's star campaigner in Maharashtra election