ShivSena leader Sanjay Raut too, said that the party has “other option” if the BJP doesn’t concede to the demands.
New Delhi| The struggle to grab the Chief Minister position still continues amongst the ShivSena and BJP. The Maharashtra state is still waiting for a new government and their CM.
As soon as the results were announced both the parties started claiming the CM post for their respective candidates. ShivSena asked the BJP to follow the 50:50 formula that was decided pre-election.
On the day of result, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that the party will not compromise any more and the demand for equal sharing of power was put forth.
ShivSena and BJP as an alliance won the Assembly election but failed to form a majority. Individually BJP won 105 seats whereas ShivSena won 56 seats, together they won 161 seats. Before the election, the alliance targeted on winning 200 seats.
On the other hand, Congress stood on 44 seats and the third-highest was Nationalist Congress Party with 54 seats just 2 less than ShivSena.
ShivSena MP Sanjay Raut gave out ambiguous statements since the result announced. He was seeing constantly targeting BJP over CM post. He initially said when asked about the delay in Maharashtra government formation that ShivSena does politics with ‘Dharma & Satya’ and there is “No Dushyant” in Maharashtra targetting JJP leader in Haryana who patched up with the BJP after polls.
S Raut on being asked 'why it's taking time to form govt despite pre-poll alliance with BJP': There is no Dushyant here whose father is in jail. Here it's us who do politics of 'dharma & satya',Sharad ji who created an environment against BJP &Congress who will never go with BJP. https://t.co/aHADYgz6wH
— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2019
On the other hand, CM Devendra Fadnavis maintained that the government will be formed in the state under his leadership and there is no plan B for the Chief Ministerial post. The ShivSena however, is still adamant on the CM post for 2.5 years offer. BJP tried to offer Sena 13 important portfolios and post of Deputy CM but Sena reportedly wants 18 seats.
Meanwhile, the suspicion of ShivSena conducting backchannel talks with the NCP and Congress started making rounds. ShivSena leader Sanjay Raut too, said that the party has “other option” if the BJP doesn’t concede to the demands. The suspicion gained strength when Sanjay Raut made an unscheduled visit to NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s house.
Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President, in Baramati: Our role is, that people have given us the opportunity to sit in the Opposition and not form the govt. We will carry out our work efficiently. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/Tyrubj6ghJ
— ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2019
However, the NCP has time and again said that the party will sit in the opposition. It said that people have given them the mandate to sit in the opposition and they are not holding any talks with ShivSena to form the government. Former CM of the state and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, on the other hand, said that the party will think about the support to form a government if ShivSena approaches. Later, the party shrugged if the claim saying that it was his personal opinion.
Senior Congress leader Hussain Dalwai too wrote a letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi asking her to support ShivSena to form a government.
It has been a week since the result and there is no government in the state yet. While the BJP has said that Fadnavis will take oath as CM on Tuesday, will Sena go with Congress-NCP or mend its way with the BJP will be worth noting.
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