Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said the party could form the government in Maharashtra and that all options were open to have a Sena CM in the State if the BJP did not honour its promise.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will be touring Aurangabad on November 3 where farmers have suffered heavy crop losses due to excessive rain.
After Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray expressed his discontent over Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ statement denying the Chief Minister post to the Sena, and said the Congress, NCP are in touch with the Sena, all Sena MLAs met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, which was perceived as a show of strength.
Later in the day, Mr. Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar, leading to intense speculation over government formation. With no headway in the talks between the saffron allies, the Raut-Pawar meeting led to speculation of a possible Congress-NCP-Sena alliance to form the government. However, Mr. Raut termed it a mere courtesy call.
On Friday, the Sena sharpened its attack on the BJP. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Raut said, “Shiv Sena can prove a majority of 145 MLAs in the Assembly,” without naming the support of Congress-NCP MLAs.
“The people want to see a Shiv Sena CM and we will ensure that happens. The BJP should do what was agreed upon, which is equal sharing of CM post. Now that they are saying there was no formula, then there can be no discussion. The BJP should give us CM post for 2.5 years and that too, in writing. Without the BJP, we can have CM post for five years,” Mr. Raut said.
Asked if Sena will settle for plum Cabinet berths and deputy CM post, he said this is not trade.
To a question if 145 MLAs implied Congress-NCP support, Mr. Raut said nobody is untouchable in politics. Sources in the Sena said that they still want Aaditya Thackeray to become CM, even if it meant bypassing several senior leaders.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of heavy farm losses in the State due to excessive rains, Mr. Uddhav will visit parts of Aurangabad district. Mr. Aaditya had initially announced a tour of the affected Konkan region but it has been postponed for now.
Newly elected Shiv Sena legislature party leader Eknath Shinde on Friday, which was Karnataka Day, demanded that Belgaum, Karwar, Nipani (in Karnataka) should become part of a unified Maharashtra.
