By Friday evening, a new BJP government in Maharashtra headed by Devendra Fadnavis would have been sworn in without anyone from the Shiv Sena being included in the Cabinet. This, however, does not rule out the possibility of the BJP hammering out an alliance with the Sena in the near future.

BJP General Secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy confirmed on Thursday that none of the Sena MLAs will be sworn in on Friday. Talks with the Sena are said to be underway, but no decision is in sight before the swearing in.

The Sena, meanwhile, seemed to be vacillating between trying to put up a brave front while simultaneously heaping praise on it former alliance partner, apparently with a view to soothe feathers in the BJP camp.

While the party mouthpiece Saamana spoke about the BJP’s high credentials to lead the government, Sena leaders still maintained that since they have been embarrassed by the BJP, they should not be seen participating in the swearing-in ceremony.

Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut said on Thursday evening said that the leaders of his party have been “regularly humiliated by the BJP” and that such behaviour is “unacceptable”. According to him, if the BJP is not willing to accord due respect to Sena leaders, there is no point in them attending the function. He was addressing the media after meeting Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. He added that no further talks have scheduled between the parties.

At the same time, the Sena, in an editorial published in Saamana , said: “Devendra Fadnavis is going to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra with the blessing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” It further said the BJP’s plan to run a minority government in Maharashtra “is not right nor is it constitutional”. Forming a government with the support of the NCP is also inappropriate, it added.

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