Amit Shah speaks to Uddhav Thackeray, asks him to reconsider proposal

New Delhi/Mumbai, Sept 22:

chief

on Monday called up Shiv Sena chief

in a bid to save the 25-year-old alliance in poll-bound Maharashtra. Shah requested Thackeray to reconsider his party's proposal to yield just 119 seats to the BJP in the forthcoming polls while reserving 151 for itself. Thackeray let the Sena's decision known in Mumbai on Sunday and the BJP called it impractical.

[Read: Amit Shah didn't call me up, says Uddha Thackeray]

[Read: Both BJP & Congress are struggling to tackle their allies in Maharashtra]

Maharashtra BJP poll-in-charge Om Mathur reached the state capital on Monday morning to discuss the matter with the Sena chief. Both the allies of the Mahayuti (grand alliance) in Maharashtra, who are eyeing a return to power after a gap of 19 years, have shortlisted candidates for the October 15 polls but have kept short of announcing the list, waiting for the last-ditch efforts to help them avoid a split in the alliance.

BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Sunday told reporters that the BJP wants to go along with the Sena and other allies and that efforts should be made to ensure that there is a mature understanding on seat-sharing and the alliance. The BJP's Central Election Committee met on Sunday and reportedly shortlisted 120 candidates out of a list of over 180 candidates. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi besides Shah and other leaders.

Shah reportedly spoke to the Sena chief in the middle of the BJP meets thought it was not confirmed. Some BJP leaders said the party was ready to contest the polls alone if the Sena refused to soften its stand.

Oneindia News