Amit Shah's Mumbai visit cancelled

BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Mumbai today has been cancelled, a party spokesperson said here.

"Shah's visit today has been cancelled," state BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye told PTI.

Shah was earlier expected to reach here this evening amid the impasse over seat sharing among 'Mahayuti' (grand alliance) partners. He was expected to discuss the alliance tangle with senior state BJP leaders, party sources had said earlier today.

A meeting of the Mahayuti leaders held here late last night remained inconclusive with the junior members insisting on more seats and expressing their displeasure over the 151 for Shiv Sena, 130 for BJP and seven for allies seat-sharing formula proposed by Sena for the Maharashtra Assembly polls scheduled for next month.

The saffron combine has four junior partners -- Raju Shetti's Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha led by Mahadeo Janker, Vinayak Mete's Shivsangram and Ramdas Athawale's RPI(A).

Shetti had earlier said that giving seven seats to four parties was an 'insult' to them and that would not be accepted.

"If the Sena distributes seven seats among four alliance partners, it will be an insult to us. Sena and BJP can fight elections on all 288 seats and satisfy their egos," he had said.
Athawale was reportedly miffed with Sena's proposal and had left midway during the discussions late last night.

Meanwhile, Shah is scheduled to launch an integrated residential complex for trainees along with an auditorium at the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in adjoining Thane district tomorrow.