After more than two months of electoral rivalry and verbal attacks, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena decided to join the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra on Thursday.

In the new alliance, Sena will get five Cabinet and seven Minister of State berths. However, on Friday, only 10 Sena members will be administered oath of office. The remaining two are likely to join the government early next year.

The Sena had earlier bargained for at least 15 ministerial positions. It had also wanted the posts of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister. Fadnavis did not announce the portfolio at the time of going to press, but sources indicated that there is unlikely to be any Deputy CM.

By bringing Sena on board, the BJP-led government will get a clear majority of 184 in an Assembly of 288 seats. The party has 121 MLAs against the Sena’s 63. The NCP, with 41 MLAs, had announced external support to the government. With the addition of 10 new ministers, the total number will go up to 30.

“People of the State as well as party workers want both the parties to form an alliance and run the State government. Therefore we are giving in to their demand and forming an alliance government in the State,” the Chief Minister said at a press conference here.

He added that the two parties will jointly contest the elections for local bodies, such as Zillha Parishad and Municipal Councils, which are due shortly. “We will form a joint coordination committee for fighting such elections,” he said.

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