Maharashtra polls: Is BJP-Sena squabble giving Cong-NCP alliance reason to smile?

With the tussle over seat-sharing for the ensuing Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the 25-year-old alliance between Shiv Sena and the BJP is going through its lowest phase. Some reports are even saying that the saffron allies may choose to go alone if further talks fail. By doing so, the two old allies are not only losing their chance to come in power after 15-long years but also giving the Congress-NCP alliance some reasons to smile.

According to reports, the two sides will on Friday hold a high-level meeting on the issue and a formal announcement over the alliance will be made later in the day.

Seat-sharing bone of contention between saffron allies

The saffron alliance has been going through rough roads over seat-sharing for the past few days.
Post the Lok Sabha victory where the BJP won 23 of the State's 48 seats, the party has stepped up demand to contest more seats in the Assembly polls. The Sena had won 18 seats. But, the Shiv Sena wants to go by 2009 formula, where it contested 169 seats and BJP 119 in 288-member Assembly.
Now, both the parties have proposed two separate formulae and are adamant about not stepping back. The Shiv Sena has put that it won't accept anything less than 150 seats while the BJP is demanding half of the Assembly seats. The party had earlier said that its performance in the Lok Sabha polls earned it the right to an equal number of seats to contest. BJP had suggested a formula that both of them contest 135 seats each and leave 18 for their smaller allies. Following the setback in bypolls, the party's demand came to 130. On the otherhand, Shiv Sena argued that it will continue to be elder brother with 150 seats to contest.

Sena-BJP infighting will give Congress-NCP another chance

If the saffron allies fail on seat-sharing talks and decide to go alone in the upcoming Assembly polls, it will give the NCP-Congress alliance a chance of survival in the Assembly polls.

NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra is staring at imminent defeat

Due to number of reasons like incumbency factor, corruption, poor administration, the ruling NCP-Congress Government is staring at a defeat. But, a Sena Vs BJP fight will divide the saffron votes and this will help the Congress-NCP to make a come back.

Various poll surveys have already predicted a disastrus defeat of the alliance. The Congress-NCP has been ruling the State since 1999. During the 2009 Assembly elections, Congress had won 82 seats and NCP 62. But, this time the ruling Government is being criticised on various front and finding it difficult to make a comeback.
If the Shiv Sena and BJP failed at seat-sharing talks, they would loose a golden chance to rule the State after a gap of 15 years. Instead of fighting with each other, the two allies should acknowledge each other's power and work towards uprooting the ruling alliance from the State.