Amid speculations that the BJP might not agree to the seat-sharing formula being proposed by it for upcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra, recent reports say that the Shiv Sena might go solo for the upcoming state polls.

The Shiv Sena has been conducting interviews of ticket aspirants for all the 288 assembly seats, and reviewed its poll preparedness at a party meeting recently.

A senior Sena functionary who was part of the meeting said, “Uddhavji discussed the poll plan for all regions, as we are in election mode now. As always, we have been asked to be prepared for any eventuality. Last time in 2014 we were not ready, but this time we are better prepared, if the need arises.”

As per sources, BJP has made it clear to Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena that after taking out the seats that the two parties won in 2014, the remaining seats will be distributed equally. This will leave Shiv Sena with around 115 seats in the alliance’s seat distribution plan.

Shiv Sena has, however, raised an objection to this and pointed to the fact that Devendra Fadnavis had promised before the Lok Sabha elections that seat distribution for assembly polls will be equal for both the partners.

BJP MLC Prasad Lad has said the seat-sharing announcement could happen on September 19 in Nashik, in the presence of BJP national president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Few days ago, Uddhav Thackeray shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and announced that the alliance of BJP and his party for Assembly election was “inevitable”.

In 2014, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 122 seats while the Shiv Sena bagged 63. The Congress and NCP won 42 and 41 seats respectively.