After musical chairs, Shiv Sena-BJP talk seats

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday finally began discussions on the seat-sharing arrangements for the forthcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election.

On Monday, the parties merely exchanged their list of demands, even as BJP’s city chief said after the meeting that the seat-sharing pact between them would be sealed by January 21.

“Only primary discussion took place today. A few issues need to be discussed at a higher level. Chief minister Devendra Fadanvis and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will discuss soon in this regards,” said Sena leader Anil Desai after the meeting. BJP Mumbai chief meanwhile briefed the media after the meeting that negotiations will be finalised till January 21.

Education minister Vinod Tawde, housing minister Prakash Mehta and BJP Mumbai chief Ashish Shelar participated from the BJP’s side, while member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha Anil Desai, member of legislative council Anil Parab and senior leader Ravindra Mirlekar represented the Sena.

Earlier, the BJP had demanded 105 seats informally where Sena was ready with not more than 95 seats. In the 2012 BMC polls, BJP had contested 63 seats and Shiv Sena had fought 135, where Ramdas Athavale’s RPI which was in alliance with the saffron parties had received 35 seats. This time, the BJP is demanding more seats, as the party is upbeat after the 2014 general and assembly elections. The BJP has also demanded sharing of city mayor ship for half the term but Sena opposed it vehemently.

The saffron allies have been taking pot shots at each other even as cadres from both the parties are asking their leaderships to go solo. Internal surveys of both parties project more than 100 seats, but leadership from both sides do not want to ruffle any feathers. Last week, Mr Fadnavis had cleared his stand on an alliance with the Sena. “We want an alliance to prevent Congress-NCP from coming back to power. We have differences with Sena but there are certain issues that we shares,” Mr Fadnavis had said. State finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has also cleared BJP’s stand on an alliance. “Though our cadre wants to go alone, we are talking with Sena for well-being of the city.” he said.