by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
special report
BJP not to buckle under Sena Pressure
Fadnavis to remain alliance's CM face
No automatic sharing of equal number of Assembly seats
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Aug. 1
The BJP Central high command has asked the Maharashtra unit of the party to sort out issues relating to seat sharing pact with Shiv Sena for the Assembly polls later this year.
BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has clearly conveyed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state president Chandrakant Patil that it is for them negotiate with Sena and others on sharing of seats.
The high command also made it clear that no commitment was given to the Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray about the number of seats to be contested by BJP-Shev Sena in 2019. When Amit Shah called on Sena Chief at Matoshree before the Lok Sabha polls early this year, there was no commitment given with regard to Assembly seats. The talks were confined merely to sharing of Lok Sabha seats. “The Sena demanded 23 seats and the same was agreed upon. Of course, Sena Chief wanted to discuss sharing of assembly seats as well. But there was no discussion,” said a senior party functionary.
Since the BJP didn't want any discording notes before the Lok Sabha polls, it conceded all the demands of Sena. But in the Assembly, the high command has left it to the state unit to sort out the issues maintaining a safe distance.
This is being done as high command doesn't want to get into this exercise and leaving it to the wisdom of the Chief Minister and Mr Chandrakant Patil to arrive at an understanding.
But the stance of the High command sends a clear signal that it will adopt tough stance towards its ally rather than buckling under the pressure. It is ready to go it alone if the ally throws tantrums or demands the post of the Chief Minister. In 2014, BJP and Shiv Sena had fallen out on sharing of 288 Assembly seats and contested separately. The Sena faced a deadly blow when it faced a disaster by getting only 63 Assembly seats out of 288 while the BJP secured 122- alomost double.
"The BJP is keen for a truck with Sena. But sharing of seats will not be 50:50. It will be on merit and winnability,” said a source here adding that its for the state unit to decide.
Ends
