The BJP and Shiv Sena have finalized the seat-sharing formula just weeks ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections. If BJP will contest from 164 seats, SS will do so from 124. Other seats will be shared by small allies of the NDA.

With this formula, the saffron alliance is expected to sweep the State. Chief Minister and tall BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said at a presser announcing the formula that the two parties are united by the "common thread of Hindutva".

A lot of rebel candidates are expected to pose a challenge in some constituencies. About them, Fadnavis said, "In the coming days we will ask all the rebel candidates to withdraw and this will be done with the rebel candidates of each party of the grand alliance. If they don’t comply then they will not get any position in any of our alliance parties."