Shiv Sena, BJP to contest together; Uddhav bargains more seats than 2014
Mumbai : Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena, who often take pot shot at each other, have agreed to join hands for upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha Polls. The deal was reached after BJP chief Amit Shah held meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai.
The BJP will be contesting on 25 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra while Shiv Sena will fight on the remaining 23.
“Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal are among our oldest allies. We had some differences but they are a thing of the past now. Our alliance will win at least 45 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra,” said BJP chief Amit Shah.
Uddhav Thackeray said the Shiv Sena and the BJP are old allies. “People have seen the Shiv Sena and the BJP for the past 30 years. For 25 years, we stood united, there was confusion for five years. But like Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, I still provided guidance to government from time to time,” Thackeray was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also hailed the pact and said they will work together for the well-being of people of Maharashtra.
Inspired by the vision of Atal Ji and Balasaheb Thackeray Ji, BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will continue working for the well-being of Maharashtra and ensuring the state once again elects representatives who are development oriented, non corrupt and proud of India’s cultural ethos.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2019
In 2014, Shiv Sena had contested the polls on 20 seats while BJP had contested on 24 seats.
