File photo: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray with son Aditya.
With three days to go before nominations close for Maharashtra assembly polls, the smaller allies of Shiv Sena and the BJP scaled down their demand - bringing some hope for a successful conclusion to the vexed seat-sharing issue.
Instead of 18 seats, the four parties now say they would be happy with 14.
What looked like a probable seat sharing formula on Tuesday had fallen flat as the smaller allies refused to accept the seven seats big brothers BJP and Sena had left for them. The two bigger parties had come to a consensus on 151 seats for the Sena, 130 for the BJP and 7 for the other allies.
The smaller parties - Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathan, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha, Republican Party of India (Athavale) and Shiv Sangram - had threatened to walk out. They had even scheduled a press conference, where they were expected to formally announce the names of candidates without waiting for the Sena or the BJP. (Read:
As Shiv Sena and BJP Negotiate, Smaller Allies Threaten to Part Ways)
But late on Wednesday night, Mahadev Jankar of the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha told NDTV, "We have agreed to reduce our demand for seats to 14. We are positive they would be able to sort it out and the Mahayuti would stay." (Read:
As Alliance Crisis Continues, BJP President Amit Shah Cancels Visit to Mumbai)
Both the BJP and the Sena had said they want to take the smaller allies along.
Putting pressure on its oldest ally, Rajiv Pratap Rudy of the BJP said, "The small players have been with us unconditionally during the Lok Sabha elections. We won't go ahead without them in the assembly elections and we have told Sena that too".
Sena sources told NDTV they were working to sort things out, as the party has always respected its allies. In previous elections, the party had even given it seats from its own quota. (Read:
I Don't Aspire to Become Maharashtra Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray)
Though negotiations and back-channel communication have been at work over the last whole week between the two sides, as time runs out, the alliance is facing a serious crisis.
But the deal isn't sealed yet. BJP President Amit Shah, who was to arrive in Mumbai this evening, has put it off till Thursday, adding more fuel to the speculative fire over the rulings within the saffron fold.