The DF tally, however, came down from 151 in the 1999 elections, as also did the SS-BJP's tally which slipped to 119 from 136 earlier when it had gone to polls as the ruling party. The SS-BJP ruled the state between 1995-1999.

However, while in 1999 only one seat went to a non-allied party, in the 2004 polls as many as 30 candidates won as Independents or representing smaller parties.

The rumblings at the top level of the BJP notwithstanding, it has quietly worked out an understanding to contest the elections with the Shiv Sena.

The BJP expects to get two more seats in its kitty this time, and the SS has reportedly agreed to this, sources said.

In the 2004 assembly elections, the SS-BJP alliance had allotted seven seats to Sharad Joshi's Shetkari Sanghatana. While Sena conceded four seats from its share, the BJP parted with three seats.

During the last election, a sitting Congress MLA had joined the Sena and lost the election from the BJP-allotted Chandwad constituency.

The BJP has now demanded that Chandwad should be given for its candidate.

It has also demanded that one of the three seats it had conceded to the Shetkari Sanghatana should be returned too. This will raise its tally to 119.

A BJP state leader said that consensus has been reached on these issues and finishing touches are being given to wrap up the alliance before an official announcement in a day or so.

'This will ensure commitment to each other on the part of both the parties and give much-needed headway to the campaigning process, especially at the grassroots levels,' said Vinod Tawade, state BJP secretary.