Mumbai: Political stalemate continues in Maharashtra even several days after the announcement of the assembly poll results. The coalition partners BJP and the Shiv Sena bagged an absolute majority, while the BJP emerged as the single-largest party. However, the BJP has not claimed stake yet after an adamant Sena stood firm on its demand for 50:50 seat-sharing matrix and also sharing of the Chief Minister’s position on a rotational basis. The BJP has also been firm on its decision to not concede to either of Sena’s demands.
The clock is ticking and the term of the incumbent Chief Minister, BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis ends on Saturday and reports state that he is likely to tender resignation to the Governor on Friday. With this, the deadline to form a government too ends on Friday midnight. Amidst all this, Shiv Sena has moved its MLAs and a few independent MLAs supporting the party to Mumbai after reports of BJP claiming support of 182 MLAs.
Speaking to media, Sena leader Sanjay Raut has dared the BJP to form a government as the single-largest party. “Why 15 days, take one month to prove your majority,” Raut dared the coalition partner adding that if the governor calls the single largest party to form a government and their Chief Minister takes the oath, then they have to show their majority on the floor of the house. If they fail, then others can form the government. “The Sena can too, but it is only fair that the largest party get the chance first,” he said.
The BJP met with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Thursday and said it had discussed the legal implications of the delay in government formation.
Having won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly, the BJP says it has earned chief ministership. The Sena has 56 seats.
