Will BJP yield? Now, Sena offers 125 seats

In a final attempt to clear the mess in Maharashtra seat-sharing, a delegation from the Shiv Sena met BJP leaders in Mumbai on Tuesday.The visit was scheduled after the alliance partners appeared willing to accommodate each other’s concerns, keeping hopes of reconciliation alive.The BJP sent a fresh proposal to the Shiv Sena on Monday, offering to contest 130 seats -- five down from its initial demand of 135 --- in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly but also hinted it was ready to go it alone.Climbing down from its “final offer” of 119 seats, the Sena – through informal channels -- indicated it was willing to concede another six seats to the BJP, sources said. The Sena had Sunday set aside 151 seats for itself.For weeks, the saffron combine has been fighting bitterly over the number of seats each party will contest in the October 15 state election.“In a contingent situation that the BJP is compelled not to contest with the Shiv Sena, we would go it alone on all 288 seats but we will prefer that Shiv Sena comes along,” BJP general secretary in-charge for Maharashtra Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.The BJP, said sources, was yet to receive a formal response from Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on its fresh demand for 130 seats.BJP’s central election committee had finalised candidates for more than 200 seats, sources said. In case of a split, the BJP would “accommodate” the three smaller parties that are part of the Mahayuti, or the grand alliance, the sources said.