Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray put forth conditions for maintaining alliance with BJP for Lok Sabha polls

As per sources, the conditions put by Thackeray are not acceptable to BJP Chief Amit Shah.

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New Delhi: Amid straining relations between Bharatiya Janta Party and its ally Shiv Sena, with the latter taking consistent jibes at the former, Sena has a now put forth fresh conditions for maintain the alliance; which is very important to BJP keeping the forthcoming 2019 General Elections in mind. The talks pertaining to alliance are taking place between Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. Two leaders close to Thackeray and Fadnavis are also a part of these discussions; and the Sena Chief has extended a list of ‘conditions’ in front of BJP. As per sources, Sena Chief wants that the formula which was followed in 2014 should be continued in 2019 as well, where BJP will contest elections on 27 seats and Sena on 21 Lok Sabha seats. This can only be done if BJP accepts Sena as superior in the state and allows Sena leader as a Chief Ministerial candidate. As per sources, Sena Chief has also said that he is also ready to contest the elections with half of the 288 Maharashtra assembly seats, which would be 144 seats each; but the Chief Minister should be from Shiv Sena only. Shiv Sena has also demanded that assembly elections should be conducted along with Lok Sabha polls. The Assembly elections in Maharashtra are likely to take place in October 2019. Now, Sena is demanding that the same should be held 5 months before time in May 2019.