The BJP is negotiating for an equal number of seats as the Shiv Sena in the 288-member Assembly and wants the Sena to give up a few seats for the smaller allies. However, sources indicated that the Shiv Sena was not willing and was insisting that the BJP give up seats from its revised quota for other alliance partners.
“Our alliance is confident of winning two-thirds majority in Maharashtra as people are angry with the 15 years of corruption and loot by the Congress and the NCP in the State. We are positive about winning a two-thirds majority and forming the next government,” Mr. Javadekar said.
The alliance had added four smaller parties, including the Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana, the Republican Party of India (Ramdas Athavale), the Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and the Shiv Sangram Party before the Lok Sabha polls.
Mr. Athavale has already given a list of 12 candidates to BJP president Amit Shah just as the others too have staked a claim for seats in their regions of influence.
However, the BJP is not talking about which partner will lead the government if the alliance wins.
