Will defeat Shiv Sena if no tie-up, says BJP president Amit Shah; Aim for 40 of 48 Lok Sabha seats, says Fadnavis

BJP chief, CM tell workers not to worry about alliance, to begin groundwork for all constituencies

After repeated feelers to stitch together an alliance with the Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday said it would defeat the Sena hands down in Maharashtra if the party does not enter into an alliance before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

BJP party workers welcome party chief Amit Shah in Latur. (HT)

The BJP’s national president Amit Shah and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed a meeting of booth-level workers from Latur, Nanded, Osmanabad and Hingoli in Latur city, with Fadnavis setting his party workers a target of winning 40 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats.

The BJP has openly expressed its desire to mend ties with Sena and forge an alliance, however, Sena leaders said no BJP leaders have met the Sena leadership. The Sena and BJP had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as allies, but split at the time of Assembly elections. The Sena joined the state government later. The Sena has been critical of BJP, and leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party have often spoken of contesting the elections alone.

“The BJP would put candidates even in seats contested by allies. So, I urge all party workers to get on the ground and commence preparations in earnest. It is not the job of a party worker to worry about alliances. These matters are the concern of the top brass. Our preparations must be to ensure that the party is victorious in at least 40 of the 48 seats,” Fadnavis said at the closed-door meeting .

Shah had reportedly told party MPs from the statelast Thursday that they should be ready to contest the coming elections without an alliance.

“The arrogant statement by Amit Shah has exposed him and his party. By boasting about winning 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, the BJP has announced its alliance with the EVMs. The Sena is ready to take on anybody if attacked. Maharashtra will see to it that you will be routed in the election,” a Shiv Sena spokesperson said. (with agency inputs)