Media Reports On Uddhav-BJP Talks Likely 'Strategic' Rumours Amid MVA Seat-Sharing Strife

Amid the ongoing tussle in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance over seat-sharing agreement for upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, media reports have claimed that Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, met with Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis during Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Mumbai.

Further, it was also reported that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut spoke with Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, amid these claims, Raut dismissed the reports of any such meeting between Thackeray and Fadnavis.

He also refuted claims about his dismiss his reported meeting with Union minister Amit Shah.

Raut said joining hands with BJP meant joining the ranks of Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan (medieval Mughal general).

In the past few days, speculation also swirled around that Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) would part ways over seat-sharing differences and that Raut-Shah “meeting” was meant to explore various options.

“The BJP not only toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led government but also broke the party founded by late Balasaheb Thackeray, snatching the party’s symbol. How could rumour-mongers even imagine us going with the BJP,” asked Raut.

However, the stories in the media, most of which were reported citing sources, appear to have been part of the Uddhav Sena's strategy to secure favourable outcome in the MVA seat sharing talks with its allies — the Congress and Sharad Pawar led NCP faction.

The reports over Uddhav Thackeray meeting BJP leaders and Shiv Sena-UBT planning to ditch MVA to go solo in the Maharashtra elections, were apparently planted to put pressure on Congress for seat-sharing agreement.

Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) were reportedly at an impasse over 15 seats.

Reportedly, both parties had earlier refused to yield their winning seats to one another, leading to a situation that has escalated to Delhi.

On Wednesday (23 October), Raut claimed that 99 per cent of work on the Maha Vikas Aghadi's seat-sharing arrangement has been completed and leaders of the three alliance parties are expected to announce the formula later in the day.

He also indicated that Shiv Sena (UBT) could contest 100 seats.

This came after top leaders of the opposition's MVA alliance met in Mumbai late Tuesday night with reports claiming that the seat-sharing arrangement for the assembly elections has been finalised.

The elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are scheduled on 20 November and votes will be counted on 23 November.

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