All options open: Shiv Sena MLA

Mumbai: Even as sources within the BJP indicated the party would not compromise on the chief minister’s position, Shiv Sena MLAs were upbeat and claimed that their demand for rotational chief ministership was non-negotiable.

After party MLAs met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, MLA Abdul Sattar said all options were open before the party, indicating that it could negotiate with Congress and NCP if the BJP does not accept their demand.

Mr Sattar’s statement come amid speculations that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) might support the Sena to install its chief minister.

Another MLA, Pratap Sarnaik, said equal sharing of power and rotational chief ministership were important since they were decided between Mr Thackeray and BJP chief Amit Shah before the Lok Sabha polls.

The MLAs met Mr Thackeray, two days after the party won 56 seats in the Assembly polls.

The MLAs also authorised the Sena chief to take all decisions relating to the formation of the next government.

In the recently-concluded elections, the BJP won 105 seats and the Sena 56, while the NCP and the Congress bagged 54 and 44 seats, respectively in the 288-member House.

BJP’s reduced numbers seem to have emboldened the Sena, which has indicated it will play hard ball with its ally in the run up to the government formation.

Mr Thackeray said the BJP should give a written assurance about implementing the power-sharing formula arrived at in the presence of Amit Shah and Devendra Fadnavis before the Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Shah had met Mr Thackeray at the latter’s residence to seal the electoral alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, which were held in April-May 2019.

According to sources, the formula entailed rotational chief ministership and equal sharing of Cabinet berths.

The Sena has been rooting for Aaditya to take over as the next CM or deputy chief minister of the state. However, the BJP leadership has repeatedly been clarifying that Mr Fadnavis would continue to be the chief minister.