Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "Maharashtra is so huge. This division of 288 seats is more difficult than the partition of India and Pakistan." (Photo: India Today)

The bugle for the Maharashtra assembly elections has been sounded but the seat-sharing arrangement between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena has yet been finalised. Both parties want to contest as many seats as possible, so the seat-sharing formula has not been agreed on yet.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, speaking on issues surrounding the seat-sharing arrangement, said that this partition is even more terrible than the partition of India and Pakistan.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "Maharashtra is so huge. This division of 288 seats is more difficult than the partition of India and Pakistan."

Sanjay Raut said "If we were in the opposition instead of being in government, then the picture would have been different. He said that whatever decision will be taken on seat-sharing will be immediately conveyed to the media.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena: Itna bada Maharashtra hai, ye jo 288 seats ka bantwara hai ye Bharat-Pakistan ke bantware se bhi bhayankar hai. Had we sat in Opposition instead of being in govt the picture today would have been different. Whatever we decide on seats we'll let you know. pic.twitter.com/IM4I9Pu1MA ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2019

According to reports, Shiv Sena wants at least 130 seats for itself, while Republican Party of India (RPI) chief Ramdas Athawale wants 10 seats for his party in the NDA alliance in Maharashtra.

The BJP currently has 122 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, while the Shiv Sena has 63 seats.

Maharashtra BJP wants to maintain the status quo as far as seat sharing is concerned. It wants to retain its 122 seats, give the Shiv Sena 63 seats and whatever seats remain after giving seats to smaller allies like the RPI should be divided between the BJP and the Shiv Sena equally.

As per Shiv Sena sources, the party is asking for135 seats from the BJP. The Thackeray-led party is in favour of 135-135 seat distribution between itself and the BJP. As per the Shiv Sena, the BJP can divide the remaining 18 seats between other allies.

Disregarding Shiv Sena's ambition, the BJP wants to contest elections on as many seats as possible. The ruling party does not want to end its decisive role in the state under any circumstances. For this reason, there is a tangle between the two parties regarding seat sharing.

Even before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there was a dispute over the sharing of seats between BJP and Shiv Sena. Due to this, the alliance between the two parties was also delayed.