Maharashtra BJP proposes to contest polls without Shiv Sena, asks PM Modi, Amit Shah to take final call

New Delhi: As the future of the 25-year-old BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra remains uncertain, the state BJP leaders on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah to take decision on contesting Assembly elections alone in the state, as per reports.

The BJP top brass took stock of the seat-sharing issue today in the party's central election committee meeting but remained tight-lipped about whether it will accept the offer by Sena or part ways and go alone in the state for the Assembly polls.

Shiv Sena today said that the party will wait till Monday afternoon for BJP's response on its seat-sharing offer, reports claimed. It further added that the party may also contest all 288 seats in the state alone.

Also, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray today rolled out a final formula and offered 119 seats to BJP while keeping 151 seats for his own party.

Addressing party workers on Sunday, after a meeting of the party's state executive here, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said, “Party workers have given me authority to take a decision and I'll do it with responsibility, keeping everything in mind. We are making last effort to save the alliance.”

Uddhav further admitted that there is a 'tug of war' in alliance with the BJP, as the two coalition partners slug it out for more seats in the Assembly elections. 

"Many faces have been unmasked during polls time, have taken a decision, will announce it soon," Uddhav added.

Sena's top brass is meeting at Matoshree to finalise the names to the candidates for the Assembly polls.

The election in Maharashtra are due in October.