The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued to mount pressure on ally Shiv Sena by discussing the observers' report from Maharashtra ahead of the much-awaited seat-sharing between the two for the upcoming assembly polls.
Though the BJP said it discussed seats where it has been contesting over the years, the party is learned to have shortlisted names for the remaining segments in case the 'fragile-than-ever' alliance ends in view of BJP's demand for a half share in the 288 seats going to polls.
BJP's demands are expected to unsettle Sena further because the party's mouthpiece Saamana said in its editorial on Monday that their alliance was bound to stay intact because of its basic foundation of Hindutva.
"The resurgent Sena has digested the poison repeatedly. The BJP knows that we two are bound by the thoughts of Hindutva and we will never separate," the editorial said.
The development in the BJP's state parliamentary board which met on Monday is crucial in view of party president Amit Shah's visit to Mumbai on September 4.
Sources said state BJP has prepared a report for Shah's perusal. Shah also is not too keen on appeasing Sena much, and has left senior leaders from both sides confused over his plans to meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
{{/usCountry}}Sources said state BJP has prepared a report for Shah's perusal. Shah also is not too keen on appeasing Sena much, and has left senior leaders from both sides confused over his plans to meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
{{/usCountry}}State president Devendra Fadnavis said Shah was not scheduled to interact with Thackeray, but his party colleague Vinod Tawde said the two would definitely meet.
When asked, Sena leader Diwakar Raote, who addressed a press conference on Monday, refused to comment on the BJP's posturing. One of the allies, Swambhimani Paksha expected the Sena to meet its demand for 12 seats in a couple of days. Party's leader Sada Khot said Thackeray has promised him a fair share.