New Delhi, May 7: Shiv Sena, a key ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Tuesday said its senior partner may fall short of an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha following the election result. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that it looks a "bit difficult" for the BJP to reach the 280-seat mark as it did in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Raut, however, opined that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will retain power.

"What Ram Madhav says is right. The NDA will form the next government. The BJP will be the single largest party. As of now it looks a bit difficult for the BJP to reach the 280-282 figure on its own but our NDA “parivar” (family) will cross the majority mark," Raut told a TV channel. Shiv Sena would be happy if Narendra Modi becomes the prime minister again, Raut told news agency PTI. PM Modi Did in 5 Yrs What Congress Couldn't Do in 55: Ram Madhav.

On Monday, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, in an interview to Bloomberg, had said that "if we get 271 seats on our own, we will be very happy" and that "with NDA (National Democratic Alliance), we will have a comfortable majority". He, however, added that the loses would be recovered from states such as West Bengal and Odisha where the BJP "expanded" well. Shiv Sena Demands PM Modi to Ban Burqa, NDA Ally Ramdas Athawale Disagrees.

His remarks contradict with other BJP leaders who have predicted that the party will get a full majority. BJP President Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have said that the party will get a full majority, while Prime Minister Modi has also expressed confidence of BJP returning with "full majority" and the NDA getting over 300 seats.

Reacting to Madhav's statement, Congress said the BJP is in "electoral depression". Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said that Ram Madhav has admitted that BJP may not get a majority on its own to form a government and it would need allies.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 06:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).