Maharashtra polls 2019: Alliance with BJP inevitable, says Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai, Sep 07: Amid reports that ruling BJP and Shiv Sena are hardening their positions on sharing of seats to contest the assembly polls, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that the saffron alliance is "inevitable" and it will return to power once again.

Speaking at a function in Mumbai, Thackeray lavished praise on Modi for nullifying Article 370, and gave a call for the construction of grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and introduction of Uniform Civil Code.

"PM Modi has provided leadership and direction to the country which has immense capacity to progress and develop. I thanked Modi for abrogating Article 370 (which provided special status of Jammu and Kashmir) and the 'Chandrayaan-2' mission... Now the nation awaits the construction of a Ram mandir in Ayodhya and (introduction of) Uniform Civil Code," said Thackeray.

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and it will remain so. Modi has proved this in deed and not just in words," he added.

Thackeray said the country was also proud of ISRO scientists for manoeuvring the ambitious moon mission.

"India has an immense capacity, and in Modi, the country has got leadership to give (right) direction," he said.

Thackeray also said the alliance with the BJP will sustain. "The alliance is 'atal' (inevitable). We want power..No doubt about it, but we need it for developing the state. The 'yuti' (NDA alliance) will return to power in the state once again after polls. I am glad that PM Modi is providing facilities for the growing population in the state," he said.

In his speech, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the country had never seen a Prime Minister sitting amidst ISRO scientists and boosting their morale.

Leaders of the BJP and the Sena have held a primary round of talks in a bid to seal a seat-sharing deal.

As per reports, the Sena wants the BJP to adhere to the 50:50 formula, which means both the parties contesting equal number of seats.

However, poll managers of the BJP are arguing for more seats to accommodate leaders from Opposition parties and its "growing political might".

Of the total 288 seats, the BJP and the Sena have agreed to allocate 18 seats to smaller allies, but a formal deal is yet to be worked out.