Mumbai: After much speculations and delays, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena late on Monday evening formally announced their pre-poll alliance for the October 21 Assembly elections in Maharashtra. In a joint statement issued here by state BJP president Chandrakant Patil and senior Sena leader Subhash Desai they both announced the cobbling up of a BJP-Sena led pre-poll Mahayuti alliance comprising of their alliance partners that include RPI-Athawale, RSP, Shivsangram and Rayatkranti.
Although not officially declared, according to sources in the seat sharing agreement, the BJP is likely to contest 146 seats, the Sena 124 seats and alliance partners will get 18 seats to contest. It may be recalled that just couple of days before the 2014 assembly elections the BJP had announced that it was snapping its two decades old alliance with the Sena. After the elections, and initial reluctance couple of months later the Sena joined the BJP alliance government.
In the joint statement issued here, the two disclosed that Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with RPI-Athawale faction leader, Union Minister for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) leader and Minister for Dairy Development Mahadev Jankar, Shivsangram leader and BJP MLC Vinayak Mete and Rayatkranti leader and Minister of State for Agriculture, Sadabhau Khot have all unanimously resolved to contest the ensuing assembly elections as Mahayuti and hence this announcement.
In regards to which political party will contest which and how many seats will be announced soon. They further expressed confidence that this Mahayuti will get the unprecedented mandate of the people of Maharashtra.
Earlier, both Patil and Desai argued that in the last five years the Mahayuti government has taken the state to new heights during their five year rule. This was possible under the able guidance and leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, and as per democratic traditions the alliance is once again going to face the elections.
Sources in the BJP later disclosed that party president Amit Shah is not coming to Mumbai on October 1 to make the formal announcement along with Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. The Union Home Minister will be in Kolkata in a day long series off engagements being held to mark the abrogation of Article 370 and other functions.
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray since yesterday has already begun handing over party tickets to confirmed sitting and to candidates where the Sena is contesting. Sources added that this soft launch of the alliance is being done to avoid or contain last minute rebellions with the respective alliance partners. Sources disclosed that the list of seats shared and contesting candidates will be announced shortly.
