Maharashtra polls: Sena-BJP deal done

Mumbai: The saffron siblings seems to be playing down their differences ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. Of the 288 seats in the state the Shiv Sena will contest 169, while the BJP 119.

Also, the Sena will give the two extra seats to BJP to compensate for giving up its traditional stronghold Guhagarh seat to them. In exchange, the BJP will get two seats including Ghatkopar West and Malabar Hill.

But the move has upset the local RSS cadres.

The united front of the alliance is in sharp contrast to the rancour between them in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections where they seemed set to break up. So the only factor that seems to have changed is Raj Thackeray's party the MNS, which substantially dented the alliance's base across Maharashtra in the Lok sabha elections.

The Sena BJP lost nine seats across Mumbai, Thane and Nashik in the Lok Sabha elections to the MNS. Thus, it is a threat which explains the newfound unity between the saffron siblings.

"We are convinced we will win all 288 seats," said Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena leader.

It's not just the MNS threat, the BJP's morale is at an all time low and that could affect its performance in these elections.