Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fnavis, on Saturday, said that BJP and Shiv Sena will contest next month's assembly polls toger. CM also said that he is confident that people will show him ir support and will help him retain post after elections.

Both parties to work in an alliance

He went on to negate media reports that pointed out that BJP will contest 162 out of total 288 seats while Sena will take up remaining 126. Fnavis' remarks come just a day after Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray asserted that both parties will contest elections in an alliance and that an anuncement on seat-sharing formula will be me in a couple of days. Election Commission, on Saturday, anunced election dates for various states. Maharastra, along with Haryana will go for a single-phase election on October 21. Counting of votes will be taken up on October 24.

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"I am saying with uncertainty that we will contest Assembly polls along with Shiv Sena. seat-sharing talks are still on, do t trust reports," said Fnavis. Referring to Sena pitching for equal sharing of 288 seats, chief minister said all details about seat-sharing arrangements will be formally anunced at a press briefing. Fnavis, while answering a question, said that decisions were dictated to Sena by BJP and that all decisions between m have been taken 'amicably'. He also said that all decisions taken by his Cabinet were 'unanimous' and were taken with support of Shiv Sena ministers.

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While speaking about Sena's criticism of his government through party mouthpiece 'Saamana', Fnavis said, "I don't re Saamana. Shiv Sena minister h a second thought about any of decisions in last five years (since BJP-led government came to power). So, we are t concerned about what happens outside," he said in an oblique reference to 'Saamana'.

Confidence of return

Responding to a question on wher he will get ar term as chief minister, CM replied, rar rhetorically,  "Do you have any doubt?” He also said decision to appoint Yuva Sena chief Aitya Thackeray as deputy chief minister, in event of NDA government returning to power, will be taken by Sena and ded that he looks at Aitya becoming active in politics with a positive angle.

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"He is fanning out parts of state, trying to understand issues pertaining to Maharashtra. I welcome his decision to join active politics, I take it positively. He has to le Shiv Sena one day. He is going through process," Fnavis said. chief minister furr went on to say that people believe BJP will retain power and ded that he will work in Mumbai. When questioned about talks of him joining national politics, Fnavis said that tasks for him are decided by BJP.

BJP and Sena h contested 2014 Assembly polls independently. BJP h emerged as single largest party winning 122 seats while Sena pocketed 63 seats. Later, both parties h come toger to form government.
On a related te, Sunil Arora, Chief Election Commissioner, while anuncing poll dates for various states during a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, said that bypolls will be held in 64 seats. He also bifurcated m according to states- Mhya Presh (1), Meghalaya (1), Odisha (1), Puducherry (1), Punjab (4), Rajasthan (2), Sikkim (3), Tamil Nu (2), Telangana (1), Uttar Presh (11) Arunachal Presh (1), Assam (4), Bihar (1), Chhattisgarh (1), Gujarat (4), Himachal Presh (2), Karnataka (15) and Kerala (5).

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(With PTI Inputs)