BJP, Shiv Sena ready plans to go it alone

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, September 11

Despite the bonhomie between Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in Mumbai last weekend, both the parties are preparing to go it alone for next month’s Assembly elections in Maharashtra should the seat-sharing talks fail.

According to sources in both parties, the BJP and the Shiv Sena have already short-listed multiple contenders for all 288 Assembly seats. Both have seen an influx of leaders from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party and there is no shortage of aspirants for ticket.

“The BJP is shortlisting its candidates after consulting leaders like working president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” says a party source. The final say on candidates lies with the party’s central leadership in New Delhi, BJP sources said.

However, the Shiv Sena is vocal about its Plan B and has begun interviewing candidates for all the seats.

“We are preparing for any eventuality. Last time we were taken by surprise and had to scramble to find candidates for many seats,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said.