With an aim to find a way to put the ongoing BJP-Shiv Sena impasse over seat sharing to an end, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis met the core committee of Maharashtra BJP, along with party’s national general secretary V Satish on Tuesday.
After the meet, the BJP clarified that if Shiv Sena comes up with a proposal with terms of forming the government, it is willing to discuss it.
“Voters have given a mandate to the BJP-Shiv Sena grand alliance, but to form the government, we haven’t received any proposal from the Sena. We are ready to have a discussion. Our doors are open to them,” Maharashtra state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil told media after the meeting.
He also added, “We don’t have any doubt that a Fadnavis-led government will be formed soon.”
Maharashtra’s incumbent Assembly’s term is getting over on November 9. If no party is able to form the government by then, the Governor of Maharashtra is likely to opt for the President rule in the state.
The BJP and Shiv Sena are locked in a bitter tug of war over the issue of chief minister’s post, resulting in a stalemate in government formation despite results of the Assembly polls giving the BJP-Sena alliance a combined seat strength of 161, in the 288-member House.
Meanwhile, buzz is also doing the rounds that Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena may join hands to form the next government in the state of Maharashtra. NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the latter’s residence in the national capital on Monday in this regard.
Commenting on the rift, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut accepted that mandate of Maharashtra election is for Shiv Sena-BJP alliance but BJP should accept the terms of alliance decided before elections.