Latest Politics News and Updates: Maharashtra BJP split over alliance

Monday, September 22, 2014

Maharashtra BJP split over alliance - The Hindu

Om Mathur, BJP-in-charge of Maharashtra polls.

As tension over seat-sharing with ally Shiv Sena continues, there seems to be a sharp division in the BJP’s top Maharashtra leadership on the issue of alliance.

Though the BJP has publicly postured that it “wants to keep” the 25-year-old alliance, there are talks of a `plan B’ if the Sena does not give the BJP a “respectable” share of seats.

The BJP wants 130 seats out of the 288 in the State Assembly while the Sena in its latest proposal has said it would not give anything more than 119.

If the deadlock is not resolved, “it’s natural, for both sides,” to put into action ‘plan B,’ Om Mathur, BJP-in-charge of Maharashtra polls, told The Hindu. In case talks fail, “time will tell” the next course of action, Mr. Mathur said, leaving open all options.

Considered close to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Mathur at the same time reiterated that the party “wants to keep the alliance.” “The Sena has not formally responded to our proposal. We are waiting for their response,” said Mr. Mathur.

As the BJP’s party-in-charge of Gujarat, he worked closely with Mr. Modi in the last two Assembly elections in the State and also enjoys the trust of the RSS.

With date for nominations to close on September 26, the state leaders are eagerly waiting for a direction from the central leadership. The deadlock has triggered speculations that the parties could go their separate ways after being together for a quarter century. The State BJP unit seems to be divided on the pros and cons of fighting without the Sena, with a section of leaders irritated by the long-time ally’s “stubborn” behavior. "The Sena is unnecessarily insisting on contesting more seats. We are only asking for a discussion on those 59 seats that it has never won. We want to keep the alliance but if we are kept at 119 you can consider the alliance as good as over. "It's about self-respect after all," said a senior leader.

The faction in favour of splitting believes that the party is equipped to go it alone despite the shortage of time. “The party is ready. The development agenda of Mr. Modi is conducive for us to run alone,” said the leader. He, however, admitted that going alone at this moment would serve the party a "little disadvantage."

However, the argument for running solo does only seems to be half-hearted. Though some leaders believe that the party missed an opportunity by not declaring to go solo post the Lok Sabha elections, they believe it is now “too late” for a breakup.

“For 25 years you do business, you can't leave it at the last moment. It will send the wrong message to voters and prove detrimental for both sides,” said a senior leader.

Clearly they don’t want to cross the line as is evident from their restrained statements on the public challenge thrown by the Sena.