“Amit Shah Said No 50:50 Deal Discussed”:Fadnavis Refutes Sena
MUMBAI : The BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis said today that no rotational formula was agreed upon with the Shiv Sena, as it has insisted while demanding an equal share of power in Maharashtra. “There is no doubt in my mind that I will be Chief Minister for five years,” he said to questions about the Sena’s hard bargaining stalling government formation in the state.
He said there was no formula to split the Chief Minister’s post between the two parties for terms of two-and-a-half years each, as claimed by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray – and he had it from his top leadership. “Amit Shah (BJP president) told me no formula had been discussed for chief ministership,” Mr Fadnavis said. He also said the Shiv Sena had made no demands.
Mr Fadnavis, the only Chief Minister to complete a full five year term in Maharashtra in over 50 years, also asserted that neither BJP nor the Shiv Sena was exploring other options.”We don’t need a plan B,” he said.
In last week’s Maharashtra election, the BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly and the Shiv Sena scored 56. With the BJP’s tally dipping from 122 in 2014 and its dependence higher for a majority, the Sena is insisting on an equal share in power. Together, the two have 161 seats, way past the half-way mark of 144. The Sena claims its tally is now 61 with the support of five more MLAs.
Soon after the election results, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reminded the BJP of what he said was a 50:50 deal talked about before the national election earlier this year. The BJP is emphatic about Devendra Fadnavis staying Chief Minister for the entire term and says there was no such deal before the assembly election.
It is widely believed the Sena wants Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray to do a half-stint as chief minister. On what post Aaditya Thackeray should be given, if not Chief Minister, Mr Fadnavis said it was up to the Shiv Sena to decide that.
The feud between the long-term allies has been marked by daily reminders from the Sena, publicly and unsubtly, in the form of digs, attacks and acrid editorials in the Sena mouthpiece Saamna.”The Saamna derails talks,” he said, in a confirmation of reports that many BJP leaders were upset about Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s daily attacks.
“We don’t give Sanjay Raut importance but people wonder why they fight elections together and then say such things,” said the Chief Minister.
Yesterday, Mr Raut had gone as far as to warn the BJP, “Don’t compel us to commit the sin of tying up with the NCP (Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party) and Congress”. This was based on reports that the NCP and the Congress were ready to back the Sena to keep the BJP out of power.NDTV.
