Maharashtra Assembly Election Results: BJP can’t get majority without Shiv Sena, says Sanjay Raut

Ahead of Maharashtra Assembly election results, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut claimed that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can not form government in the state without the support of Shiv Sena.

The Rajya Sabha MP also said that the Sena will come into power with the BJP in Maharashtra, even if the Indian National Congress crosses the majority on its own.

Sanjay Raut made this comment a day before the counting of votes on Thursday. Out of the 288 seats in Maharashtra polls, BJP has field candidates on 164 seats while Shiv Sena got 124 seats.

Despite an alliance with the saffron party, Sena put up candidates against the BJP on two seats- Kankavli and Maan. As per the survey on exit polls, the alliance party will easily win for seats in the state.

Several exit polls conducted after October 21 for Maharashtra polls, predicted that BJP-led NDA, Shiv Sena will give a clean sweep to Congress.

"The BJP cannot form the next government without the help of the Shiv Sena, even if it wins only 4-5 seats," Raut said.

"I think Shiv Sena will win 100 seats. But the BJP alone cannot form its government. The BJP-Sena alliance will cross 200 mark in this assembly elections," he said.

In a statement Raut also agreed that both Shiv Sena and the BJP shared a "love-hate" relationship.

"The alliance will not break even after counting of votes is over. Though the BJP and the Sena contested separately in 2014 elections, now both the parties have joined hands. It is a kind of love-hate relationship," the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The counting of votes has begun in the state on 24th October at 8 am.

With PTI inputs

Also Read: Maharashtra, Haryana Assembly Polls Results 2019: Counting begins