BJP, Shiv Sena to discuss seat-sharing next week

Amid Shiv Sena's reported overtures to the NCP for a tie-up in Maharashtra, BJP chief Rajnath Singh on Friday said the two NDA allies are set to discuss seat sharing in the state in the coming week.

"I called up (Sena Executive President) Uddhav Thackeray to enquire about (Sena chief) Bal Thackeray's health since he is in hospital.

"During the conversation, he informed me that Shiv Sena has appointed its senior leaders Manohar Joshi and Subhash Desai to discuss seat sharing with BJP," Singh said here.

Bal Thackeray was admitted to hospital on Thursday after he complained of fever. In the past few weeks, the Sena president reportedly met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and is believed to have discussed possibilities of a tie-up.

Thackeray's alleged refusal to meet BJP Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani when the latter was on visit to Mumbai last week was seen as a new low in the relationship of the NDA allies.
However, both sides clarified that Thackeray was taking rest when the request from Advani for a meeting was made.

Rajnath Singh said the two sides would have to make some changes in the light of altered profiles of some constituencies in Maharashtra post-delimitation.

BJP had contested 26 seats while Shiv Sena fought on 22 in the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra. Sources said the break-up equation between the allies is likely to remain the same.