BJP may woo Shiv Sena with posts at centre, state

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to offer the Shiv Sena twin gifts of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post and deputy speakership in the state Legislative Assembly in an attempt to woo the former alliance partner back into its fold, sources have said.

But Shiv Sena leaders remain skeptical and say they will not be interested in such an arrangement even if an offer is made, as the party wants to go it alone in the next elections, as declared earlier.

The BJP leaders are trying to bring Shiv Sena back into its fold as they know that it would be a difficult task to retain power in the state in the post-election scenario without an alliance with Shiv Sena, sources said.

Finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar may meet Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray next week and is hopeful of forging an alliance. The likely offer of the posts is expected to set the talks rolling.

Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P.J. Kurian is retiring soon and the BJP does not want that position go to the opposition.

A likely claimant for the deputy chairman’s post has been removed after Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu led his Telugu Desam Party out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

With difficult elections looming in Maharashtra, the BJP hopes to bring Shiv Sena back into the fold. The deputy speaker’s post in the state Assembly is vacant and the Shiv Sena had demanded the post when they joined the government.

But Mr Thackeray’s aide Harshal Pradhan told The Asian Age: “We have not received any proposal as yet and Mr Thackeray will take the decision. But we are not interested in these posts because we have declared to go solo in the upcoming elections.” Other leaders echoed his view.

If Sena accepts Rajya Sabha deputy chairman’s post, Sanjay Raut might land the assignment, being the senior most party member in Parliament, enjoying his third term.