BJP crisis won't affect Maharashtra prospects: Sena

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the factionalism in the Bharatiya Janata Party, its alliance partner, would not effect the performance of the coalition in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

“The factionalism in the BJP would have no impact on our prospects in Maharashtra,” Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told IANS.

Mr. Raut said since “Shiv Sena is the bigger party in the coalition (in that State), the BJP’s internal politics would not hamper our prospects.”

He said the seat sharing formula with the BJP for the 288 Assembly seats in the State has been finalised.

“The alliance has almost been finalised and Shiv Sena is a bigger party here, so, we will contest on 177 seats and BJP will get 111 seats,” he said.

In the 2004 Assembly elections, BJP had won 54 seats from the 111 seats it contested, while the Sena had contested 163 seats and won 62.

Elections in Maharashtra will be held on October 13 and the votes would be counted on October 22.