Sena set to join Fadnavis govt on Friday

The Shiv Sena has decided to join BJP government in Maharashtra after a month-long negotiation.

The party is expected to get five Cabinet and seven Minister of State portfolios. The oath ceremony is likely to be held on Friday.

Sources said the BJP high command is not willing to give positions such as Deputy Chief Minister or Home Minister to the Sena.

Berths such Public Works Department, Energy and Rural Development could be allocated to the ally.

A senior Shiv Sena leader told BusinessLine that the party leadership has taken a view that by staying in power, the party can enhance its image and expand its voter base in the State.

The leadership had sought better portfolios such as Finance and Home Ministry but with the BJP unwilling to accept the demand, it has decided to settle for lesser positions in the Fadnavis government, the leader said.

The oath ceremony was planned for Wednesday but due to the death of former Maharashtra Chief Minister AR Antulay on Tuesday morning, it is expected to be held on Friday.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking to mediapersons on Monday morning, had said that the meeting between senior members of the two parties was on the right course. About 80 per cent talks had been completed but some important issues were under discussion.

A BJP office-bearer candidly admitted the BJP’s image had taken a beating as it took the support of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) while proving its majority on the floor of the Assembly.

The NCP is allegedly linked to many scams in Maharashtra. “BJP’s whole election campaign in Maharashtra was against NCP but now people are seeing BJP in the same light as NCP, which is unacceptable to the party high command,” the office-bearer said.

The BJP and Shiv Sena had been allies for over 25 years. In October the two parted ways over a seat-sharing formula ahead of the Assembly elections. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly but it was short of majority.

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