Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who will lead BJP in the ensuing assembly elections in Maharashtra, has sent out a strong message that his party's seats will be distributed solely on basis of merit and performance. Making it categorically clear that the sitting legislators may well not take their renomination for granted, he said they could be dropped if they fail to meet the criteria — 100% performance, a five-year track record of organisational work and winnability factor — set up by the party.
"Ab ki baar 220 paar (this time, 220 plus [seats])," Fadnavis declared and set at rest speculation about going solo. He said BJP and Shiv Sena will fight state elections together and asked party cadre not to get trapped into a debate in this regard.