'Mahayuti won't project CM face, BJP to claim 160/288 seats'

MUMBAI: If a senior BJP functionary is to be believed, the Mahayuti will not project any chief ministerial face in Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly elections and BJP will stake claim on at least 160 of the total 288 seats. BJP's posturing on both the CM's post and the number of seats has riled the Shiv Sena and NCP camps.

The BJP functionary said that after considerable thought, it has been decided not to project any of the Mahayuti netas - Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar - as candidates for the CM's post. A decision on the new CM will be taken after the outcome of the assembly elections is clear, the functionary stated. "In the recent assembly elections in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, BJP did not project any neta as the future CM. We are keen to follow the same procedure in Maharashtra," the functionary pointed out.

On the seat-sharing formula, the BJP functionary said that the party will stake claim on at least 160 seats. "There will be no compromise on 160 seats. During negotiations, we will insist on this number. We are sure we will win more than 100 seats, and only then will we stake claim on the CM's post."

BJP had stated in the recent past that in the event it secures the highest number of seats, its nominee will stake claim to the CM's post. Shiv Sena, on the other hand, had pointed out that since the Mahayuti govt was formed following the banner of revolt raised in Shiv Sena under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, then irrespective of the number of seats the Sena wins, Shinde will be the CM. "There will be no compromise on the post of CM, Shinde will continue as CM," a Shiv Sena functionary said.

An NCP neta said that his party will stake claim on 100 seats and Shiv Sena too will demand an equal number of seats. "NCP and Shiv Sena are demanding 100 seats each, we expect to settle for 80 seats each," the functionary said, adding that the final decision on the seat-sharing formula will be taken in New Delhi in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah.