Tribune News Service
Mumbai, November 6
The BJP and the Shiv Sena have restarted talks to form an alliance government, according to sources in both parties. Earlier today, six Shiv Sena ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis government attended a Cabinet meeting called by the CM ostensibly to discuss the damage to the kharif crop caused by unseasonal rains. Sources say several options to share power between the BJP and the Sena were discussed at the meeting.
A final decision on power sharing would be taken by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, according to party sources. Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar of the BJP said the two parties would remain together. “The Shiv Sena and the BJP are together. Good news can come any time,” Mungantiwar said.
Earlier today, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut called on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to discuss political situation in the state. After the meeting, Pawar, however, reiterated that the Shiv Sena and the BJP had the mandate to form the next government in the state. “Where is the question of a Shiv Sena-NCP government?” Pawar responded to a reporter’s query.
“They are together for the past 25 years. Today or tomorrow, they will come together again,” he said. The veteran leader felt the Shiv Sena and the BJP would patch up at the last minute and form the government.
With a section of the BJP demanding President’s Rule in Maharashtra, Pawar said he had nothing to say in that regard. “BJP and Shiv Sena have got the mandate of people, so they should form the government as soon as possible. Our mandate is to play the role of Opposition,” he said.
Replying to a query, the Maratha strongman added that he was not in the race to be the CM. “I have been the CM four times. Not keen on that post again,” he said.
On claims by Raut that the Sena could put together 170 MLAs, Pawar wondered how it would be done. “Even I want to ask Sanjay Raut how he will get 170,” he said.
Earlier, after meeting Pawar, Raut said the two had discussed the situation in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena leader reiterated that his party and the BJP had decided on sharing the post of CM for 2.5 years each. “Why waste time on new proposals? We have not heard from them,” he said.
After meeting Pawar, Raut met Hussain Dalwai, Congress’ Rajya Sabha MP. Later Dalwai told reporters that the two leaders discussed how to keep the BJP out of power in the state. “We don’t want a BJP CM in Maharashtra,” Dalwai said.
‘No Sena-NCP alliance’
The Shiv Sena and the BJP have the mandate to form the next government in the state. Where is the question of a Shiv Sena-NCP government? Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/32n7uRX
via Today’s News Headlines
No comments: