The BJP and the Shiv Sena rebel faction have reportedly finalised the finer contours of their Council of Ministers in Maharashtra but will wait for the July 11 Supreme Court order on Uddhav Thackeray camp's challenge to Eknath Shinde’s appointment as the Chief Minister to take the next step.
Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi after having a flurry of interactions with top BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Both the Maharashtra leaders had a long meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday night after reaching here, the first time since assuming power in Maharashtra. According to sources, the meeting with Shah lasted for over three hours.
Fadnavis and Shinde also met legal experts including Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta. Speaking to the media, Shinde said leaders of both parties would sit together in Mumbai after the Supreme Court delivered its order even as he rejected Thackeray’s demand for a midterm election, saying his Government would complete the term. Shinde and Fadnavis also visited President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Fadnavis, after the meeting, tweeted: "Very thankful, Hon President of India Shri Ramnath Kovind ji for your valuable time and blessings to me and CM Eknathrao Shinde!” The Chief Minister and Deputy-Chief Minister interacted with BJP leadership and discussed developments in the state and the much awaited July 11 Supreme Court order on Uddhav Thackeray faction's challenge to Shinde’s appointment.
Claiming his faction was the real Shiv Sena, Shinde said they had tried to persuade Uddhav Thackeray three-four times to go with the BJP as it was a “natural alliance” but he refused.
“The existence of our MLAs came under threat in the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government. Since we could not speak, we took this step. It is only the natural alliance of the BJP and the Shiv Sena that can take Maharashtra ahead.
Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had fought for Hindutva but Uddhav failed to follow it. We are following it. Uddhav derailed Bal Thackeray’s agenda. We are putting it back on track,” Shinde asserted.
For his part, Fadnavis denied he was upset with the BJP leadership’s decision to make him Shinde’s deputy. “My party made me the CM earlier and now as per the need of the party, we have abided by the party’s decision. Eknath Shinde is our leader and CM,” Fadnavis said