Mumbai: Two second-rung leaders of the saffron allies Shiv Sena and BJP today struck discordant notes over allocation of Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai.

Earlier in the day, BJP Mumbai President Gopal Shetty set the ball rolling by announcing that former Union Minister Ram Naik would contest from Mumbai North, Kirit Somayya from Mumbai North-East and late Pramod Mahajan's daughter Poonam from South Mumbai. Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjya Raut immediately issued a rejoinder, saying Shetty's announcement could create tension in the over two-decade-old alliance.

"No discussion on seat allocation has taken place between Sena and BJP leaders," Raut, who is also Executive Editor of the Sena mouthpiece Saamana , said. "There is a tradition of holding talks and then announcing names of candidates," Raut said. The Sena-BJP combine won 25 of the 48 seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls in the state. The alliance had won 28 seats in 1999. The Sena tally in 2004 was 12 out of the 22 seats that it contested, a loss of three seats, whereas the BJP retained its earlier tally of 13 of the 26 seats it contested. In terms of votes, BJP increased its share by 1.42 per cent - from 21.18 per cent in 1999 to 22.60 per cent in 2004.

The Sena also expanded its share by 3.26 per cent - from 16.86 per cent to 20.12 per cent. The combine increased its vote share by 4.68 per cent - from 38.04 per cent in 1999 to 42.72 per cent in 2004. BJP contests more Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra than Sena which becomes senior ally during the Assembly polls.

Source : PTI