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The BJP and Shiv Sena called off the talks of government formation in Maharashtra on Friday over sharing of the Chief Minister’s position pushing the State into a major political crisis.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has resigned and the Governor of Maharashtra has appointed him as the caretaker Chief Minister.
The term of the current Assembly gets over on Saturday.
Sena-NCP parleys
The Shiv Sena, along with Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), is trying to form a government with the likely support from Congress party.
At the time of going to press, the talks were still under way. It is also learnt that the Congress have shifted its MLAs to Rajasthan to prevent any kind of poaching.
Bone of contention
In the recently-concluded elections, the Mahayuti alliance led by BJP, Shiv Sena and other smaller parties won 160 seats in the 288-member Assembly.
The results were announced on October 24 and since then Shiv Sena has been demanding power on equal terms under which the Chief Minister’s position would be held by each party for two and a half years.
It has been demanding equal distribution of the ministerial portfolios as well.
But the BJP was in no mood to accede to such a demand as it has the largest number of MLAs in the Assembly.
Fadnavis resigns
Fadnavis, addressing the media after his resignation, said that it (the resignation) has been accepted by the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
Commenting on the political fight with Shiv Sena, Fadnavis said that the BJP’s talks with Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray over sharing of Chief Minister Office were scuttled and remained inconclusive. It had never agreed to Shiv Sena’s demand.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray told mediapersons that the BJP has accused him of lying and therefore he will not speak to liars (BJP).
The BJP should now stake claim to power in the State. But the Shiv Sena has other options open. The decision about the alliance now rests with the BJP.
Thackeray added that Fadnavis has publicly said that the next government will be of the BJP. “I have a doubt on how they will do so with only 105 seats in the Assembly,” he said.
Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said that the BJP shouldn’t prolong the caretaker provision and act from behind the curtains.
They won’t mind if the BJP, as the single largest party, stakes claim and forms the government.
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