Even as the BJP is willing to sacrifice some of its ambitions regarding the number of seats, it is unlikely that the party would relent so easily when the question of choosing a chief minister arises.

Mumbai: Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls scheduled for 15 October, the Shiv Sena had its first victory of sorts as it firmly denied its senior alliance partner BJP's demand to field 135 candidates. The BJP, which is keen to maintain the alliance with the Shiv Sena, has now sent a list of 119 candidates to the party’s parliamentary boards.

BJP's move comes a day after its dismal performance in the recently held by-polls. It has been learnt that BJP president Amit Shah has also given his nod for continuing the alliance with Shiv Sena despite the fact that the regional outfit is unwilling to part with more seats.

"We have communicated our decision to the Shiv Sena that we will not insist on 135 seats but the winnability factor should be considered," said a BJP leader.

Shiv Sena leaders continue to insist that it would not come down below 150 seats. "The saffron alliance is based on Hindutva ideology and it seems that the BJP is realizing it now. We have already made our stance clear to the BJP. We also want the saffron alliance to fight the polls but we will not part more seats to BJP," said Diwakar Raote, a senior Sena leader.

Political observers say that the by-poll results have come as a major relief to Sena.

"Following the by-poll results the BJP has climbed down its demand which means that it has buckled under pressure from the Shiv Sena. The BJP fears that if it fights the assembly election on its own and gets lesser seats, then the Sena’s stance of no Modi wave will be vindicated and it will further weaken the BJP," said Prakash Bal, a political analyst.

In the 2009 Assembly polls, the BJP had contested in 119 seats while Shiv Sena fought in 169 seats. However, the stellar performance in the last Lok Sabha polls had prompted the BJP to demand equal number of seats from the Shiv Sena to fight in the Assembly polls but the poor by-poll results did not allow the opportunity.

Nevertheless, BJP is now insisting on re-distribution of seats on the basis of winnability as it would help the party to win more seats.

While addressing a rally at Kolhapur in Western Maharashtra today, Shah said, "I appeal to both the parties to solve the issue of seat sharing. We have taken two steps ahead, now the Shiv Sena should also come up with two steps forward. We need to dislodge the corrupt Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra to achieve the BJP's campaign for a Congress-free India."

Even as the BJP is willing to sacrifice some of its ambitions regarding the number of seats, it is unlikely that the party would relent so easily when the question of choosing a chief minister arises.