Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressing media as results pour in for Maharashtra assembly elections, (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressing media as results pour in for Maharashtra assembly elections, (Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)

Reminding the BJP of the “fifty-fifty” formula for power-sharing in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Thursday said “he has to allow his party to grow”. Out of the total 288 Assembly seats in Maharashtra, BJP was leading on 101 seats while Shiv Sena was ahead on 57. The BJP, however, is suffering a loss of over 20 seats against its tally in 2014. The counting is still underway.

In the state elections, Shiv Sena had agreed to contest on fewer seats than the BJP. “We agreed to contest fewer seats (than the BJP), but I cannot accommodate the BJP every time. I should allow my party to grow,” Thackeray said.

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As suspense continues over who will be the next chief minister, Thackeray said, “It is time to remind the BJP about the formula arrived at when BJP chief Amit Shah visited my home….we had decided on fifty-fifty formula for the alliance.”

Thackeray also added that he will discuss the results with his party and BJP leaders and arrive at the power-sharing formula in a peaceful and transparent manner before the alliance stakes claim to form the next government.

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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fandnavis, on the other hand, downplayed the issue saying the two parties will go by what was decided earlier.

“You (the media) will know what is decided between us at the right time,” Fadnavis said at a press conference, adding he had congratulated Uddhav Thackeray over the phone following the poll victory.

Fadnavis also thanked the people of Maharashtra for giving a “clear and decisive mandate” to the BJP-led NDA.

Fadnavis said the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena will go by what was “pre-decided” between them on sharing of power. He noted the BJP suffered in the state elections due to rebellion by some party leaders, but added that 15 of those are in touch with him to join the ruling alliance.

“I thank the people of Maharashtra for giving a clear mandate to the ‘Mahayuti’ (grand alliance). No doubt, the next government will be ours,” he said.

“It is the time to celebrate and not analyse in detail. But if we look at the result, the BJP contested 260 seats and won 122 (in 2014).

“This time, we (the BJP) contested 150 seats and our allies 14 and as per trends, we are likely to win 105 seats. Our strike rate was 47 per cent last time, now it is 70 per cent,” Fadnavis told reporters.

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