In the backdrop of intensifying tug of war between the BJP and Shiv Sena over formation of Government in Maharashtra, the BJP on Monday asserted that the State will soon get a BJP-led Government and affirmed that the Assembly election results in the State are an endorsement of public support for its dispensation.
The election results this week has given numbers to BJP-Shiv Sena alliance to form Government in Maharashtra but the formation of Government has been delayed on account of Sena’s demand for 50:50 power sharing, seeking Chief Ministerial post for half of the five year term of the newly elected Assembly.
The tussle has got spiced up with both the sides hinting at alternatives which means roping in of NCP with 54 seats and the Congress with 44. BJP has 105 seats in 288 Assembly with Sena colleting 56 seats.
NCP leader Sharad Pawar has gone in record saying that mandate for the NCP is for the playing the role of a responsible opposition and sit out. Sources say, if the stalemate between the BJP and the Sena continues or escalates further, a possible alternative power-scenario may also emerge with NCP extending an outside support to the BJP. NCP is unlikely to back up Sena, sources claimed.
BJP, meanwhile, has roped in support of around 15 odd Independents (mostly BJP rebels) but that takes count to only 120 or so. BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao maintained that the BJP has emerged as the single largest party “by a wide margin” with its tally of seats being more than the combined total of the opposition alliance of the Congress and NCP.
“With this public support, Maharashtra will soon get a BJP-led State Government that will last a full five term and fulfil people’s aspirations. Maharashtra results are an endorsement of public support for a BJP-led Government,” News Agency PTI quoted BJP spokesman as saying.
Asked about Sena’s demand for an equal division of power with many of its leaders seeking the post of Chief Minister for the party, Rao said the BJP leadership has taken note of their statements and will respond to them appropriately.
BJP leader and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena leader Diwakar Raote on Monday met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari separately amid Sena’s sniping at the BJP and
demanding that Aditya Thackrey, the son of Udhav Thackrey, who has been elected as first-time MLA in the Assembly, be made Chief Minister under the 50: 50 formula.
Sena, according to sources, wants a commitment in-writing from the BJP that Sena would be given Chief Ministerial post for the half of the tenure. BJP sources, however, drop hints that such a pre-poll agreement has not been reached between the leadership of the two long-term allies.
In the polls to the 288-member assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to 2014, while the Sena’s tally also came down to 56 seats from 63.
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP won 54 and the Congress bagged 44 seats.