Sena, BJP strain to agree on numbers

The negotiations within the saffron alliance continued late into the night. The bargain between the two sides appeared to be veering around 144 seats for Sena, 126 for BJP and 18 for the allies.

The day was marked by tension and drama as the BJP state core committee convened a meeting to discuss whether it should continue the alliance or go solo in the October 15 polls.

While party president Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi left the decision to central BJP observor O P Mathur and state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, it was conveyed that the BJP would like the alliance to continue. However, it was made clear that they should not to accept Sena’s offer of 119 seats out of 288.

Fadnavis said, “The Sena and BJP leaders met. Both sides have taken a decision to continue the alliance but details of the seats are under way… What is significant is that BJP and Sena should work to ensure Congress and NCP government is dislodged.”