Sena-BJP-RPI agree on poll math

Two days after the Congress and the NCP cobbled together an alliance, the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI trio on Thursday announced their tie-up for the Mumbai civic polls, sans any drama.

Two days after the Congress and the NCP cobbled together an alliance, the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI trio on Thursday announced their tie-up for the Mumbai civic polls, sans any drama.

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Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, BJP state president Sudhir Mungantiwar and RPI president Ramdas Athawale announced their seat-sharing formula at a joint press conference. "The Sena will contest 135 seats, the BJP 63 and the RPI has been given 29," said Thackeray, referring to the alliance as a "miracle that was waiting to happen".

In 2007, the Sena had contested 156 seats and the BJP 71 seats. The Sena has given 21 seats and the BJP eight seats to their new ally. Thackeray said the Congress-NCP alliance does not perturb them. "I am happy they have come together… now our victory is certain," he said.

Mungantiwar said this fight is against parties that have come together only for getting the right number. "We have to keep them out and keep Mumbai safe," he said. Athawale is clear about his goal. "I am in this to defeat the Congress-NCP alliance. The 2014 Assembly polls is our main target," he said.