NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing stalemate over seat-sharing arrangements in the Mahayuti alliance over at least four seats in Mumbai and adjoining areas, senior BJP functionaries, including Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday called on Union home minister Amit Shah to explore possible solutions.
BJP released its first list of 99 candidates last Sunday after which Shiv Sena workers opposed BJP candidates in at least four seats, including Kalyan East , Thane, Navi Mumbai and Murbad.
They have threatened not to campaign for BJP candidates in these constituencies, which could have a ripple effect in other constituencies in the region as well. In Kalyan East, BJP has fielded Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of sitting MLA Ganpat Gaikwad.
Gaikwad is currently in jail for allegedly firing on Shiv Sena neta Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station. Sena functionaries have opposed Sulabha Gaikwad's nomination since the beginning.
Shiv Sena workers are also not happy with BJP's decision to field Sanjay Kelkar in Thane, who is considered Shiv Sena chief and CM Eknath Shinde's stronghold. Besides this, they are opposing the candidature of Ganesh Naik in Airoli in Navi Mumbai and Kishan Kathore in Murbad constituency.
Sources said Sena leadership isn't ready to accede to BJP's decision of contesting the above seats and is contemplating fielding is own candidates, thus raising prospect of 'friendly fights', something which threatens to negate the advantage which the saffron alliance hoped to reap on account of the fight among rival Maha Vikas Aghadi partners.
BJP sources, however, said the party brass would sort out the differences, and pointed out that allies, including NCP of Ajit Pawar, have reached a consensus on the majority of seats. Sources said BJP is likely to contest over 160 seats followed by Sena and NCP.
Assembly elections in Maharashtra will take place in a single phase on Nov 20 and counting of votes will take place on November 23.
BJP released its first list of 99 candidates last Sunday after which Shiv Sena workers opposed BJP candidates in at least four seats, including Kalyan East , Thane, Navi Mumbai and Murbad.
They have threatened not to campaign for BJP candidates in these constituencies, which could have a ripple effect in other constituencies in the region as well. In Kalyan East, BJP has fielded Sulabha Gaikwad, wife of sitting MLA Ganpat Gaikwad.
Gaikwad is currently in jail for allegedly firing on Shiv Sena neta Mahesh Gaikwad inside a police station. Sena functionaries have opposed Sulabha Gaikwad's nomination since the beginning.
Shiv Sena workers are also not happy with BJP's decision to field Sanjay Kelkar in Thane, who is considered Shiv Sena chief and CM Eknath Shinde's stronghold. Besides this, they are opposing the candidature of Ganesh Naik in Airoli in Navi Mumbai and Kishan Kathore in Murbad constituency.
Sources said Sena leadership isn't ready to accede to BJP's decision of contesting the above seats and is contemplating fielding is own candidates, thus raising prospect of 'friendly fights', something which threatens to negate the advantage which the saffron alliance hoped to reap on account of the fight among rival Maha Vikas Aghadi partners.
BJP sources, however, said the party brass would sort out the differences, and pointed out that allies, including NCP of Ajit Pawar, have reached a consensus on the majority of seats. Sources said BJP is likely to contest over 160 seats followed by Sena and NCP.
Assembly elections in Maharashtra will take place in a single phase on Nov 20 and counting of votes will take place on November 23.
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