Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday has said that an official announcement would be made in the next two days regarding the BJP-Shiv Sena poll alliance. This update comes days after committing that the saffron alliance is inevitable for the Assembly polls in Maharashtra in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai. Thackeray has made it clear that after detailed considerations the formula for sharing of seats between his party and the BJP will be finalised.

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Maharashtra seat-sharing to be finalised soon

"Certain things are being worked out. The official announcement of the BJP and the Sena contesting the elections jointly will be made in the next couple of days," said Thackeray while sharing a stage with the PM at a function in Mumbai on Saturday.

Furthermore, Thackeray also said, "The alliance is 'atal' (inevitable). We want power. No doubt about it, but we need it for developing the state. The 'yuti' (NDA alliance) will return to power in the state once again after polls. I am glad that PM Modi is providing facilities for the growing population in the state."

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Sena chief didn't comment particularly on the issue of devising a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula with the BJP. "Certain things such as exchange of seats etc. are still being worked out. There will be several rounds of meetings to finalise the seat-sharing formula and other responsibilities," he said.

Thackeray also avoided answering queries on whether his son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray will be the next Chief Minister in the event of the NDA returning to power once again.

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BJP-Shiv Sena alliance

Shiv Sena and Maharashtra BJP have begun talks on the seat-sharing in the upcoming state Assembly elections in October, as per sources. Sources have reported that BJP has demanded 160 of the 288 seats to contest polls. This has reportedly irked the Sena which is unhappy with only 110 seats. Sources further report that the final decision will be taken by BJP president Amit Shah, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray. The Sena wants the BJP to adhere to the 50:50 formula, which means both the parties contesting an equal number of seats 135 each.

Of the total 288 seats, the BJP and the Sena have agreed to allocate 18 seats to smaller allies, but a formal deal is yet to be sealed. In the 2014 assembly elections, which both the parties contested separately, the BJP won 122 seats and the Sena 63.

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(with PTI inputs)