Mumbai: Soon after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday rolled out a 'final formula' on seat sharing for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinod Tawde said BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is very old, should be taken forward.
“BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is very old, should be taken forward. And if alliance needs to be maintained, there is no last formula,” Vinod Tawde said while taking a dig at Uddhav's move to announce his new offer in public.
He further said, “Seat sharing needs to be such that Congress is defeated, such issues need to be discussed face-to-face.”
Another BJP leader, Eknath Khadse said, “Shiv Sena did not compromise on the seats that they gave us, we just want the seats that they never win,” ANI reported.
“Seats they (Shiv Sena) haven't won in 25 years need to be re-distributed,” Khadse added.
He added, “We have always worked to save the alliance, BJP has sacrificed but they (Shiv Sena) don't compromise on their front.”
On being asked if BJP will accept Shiv Sena's offer, Vinod Tawde said that political parties should not discuss these things (seat sharing) through media, these things are discussed face to face.
“The final formula we want to give, we will give in person,” Tawde said.
He further said, “Will talk to Shiv Sena, want alliance to continue. Want to discuss the seats that Sena have not won in years.”
Earlier in the day, the Sena offered the BJP 119 and other small parties in the coalition 18 of the 288 seats in the politically crucial state, while keeping 151 seats for itself.
"I want power and I will get it at any cost," Uddhav, who had recently made his ambition for the chief minister's post clear, said at a party meet in Mumbai.
"We never wanted to grab power for personal benefit which is why this alliance lasted for 25 years," he added, stressing this is "my last effort to save the alliance with BJP".
Yesterday, according to reports, the Sena had proposed to give the BJP 126 seats - but only if nine of these were given to small allies.
The BJP, however, had insisted on 130 seats - five less than its earlier demand. It had asked the Sena to come down to 140 seats and distribute the remaining 18 between four other allies. The BJP's demand is based on the results of the April-May Lok Sabha polls, when it won 23 and the Sena 18 of the 48 seats in the state.
The opposition BJP-Sena alliance in the state seemed the frontrunner in the Assembly polls following the dream run in Lok Sabha, but differences over seat-sharing talks hit it hard.
