File photo: BJP President Amit Shah
As the crisis between his party and long-time ally Shiv Sena continued, BJP President Amit Shah cancelled his scheduled visit to Mumbai today evening.
He was expected to visit the capital of Maharashtra, which goes to polls on October 15, to resolve his party's seat-sharing stalemate with the Sena.
Mr Shah will now visit Mumbai on Thursday, said sources.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP, allies for 25 years, have been warring over seat-sharing in the 288-seat Maharashtra assembly. Each has rejected multiple "formulae" suggested by the other. Yesterday they had finally appeared to agree on a formula that would allow the BJP to contest the 130 seats it wants and the Sena the 150-plus it has been insisting upon. (
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But the smaller parties in what is called the "Mahayuti" alliance have soundly rejected the latest 'formula' by the Sena-BJP, under which the four outfits would get to contest only seven seats, not the 18 that was initially planned.
They have now set a deadline of 6 pm today evening to resolve the issue, otherwise, they have threatened to exit the alliance. (
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Raju Shetty of the Swabhiman Shetkari Sangathana, one of the four smaller parties in the alliance, told NDTV, "What is the logic used to arrive at this figure of seven? In our meeting in July itself I had said we (allies) need to contest on more seats. How can four parties split seven seats between them?" (
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The Sena has made it clear that it will not part with any more seats. "We have already given up 18 seats. BJP should accommodate the allies and give up five more seats," said party leader Ramdas Kadam.
The parties now have three days to resolve their differences and get on with electioneering. Nominations have to be filed by Saturday, September 27 and voting will be held on October 15.
Leaders from both the Sena and the BJP have admitted that this is the deepest crisis their alliance has faced. They can draw some consolation from the fact that the rival coalition of the Congress and the NCP, which has ruled Maharashtra for the last 15 years is equally in a disarray.
The Congress and NCP too are engaged in a tug of war over seats and have failed to reach an agreement yet.