45 of 56 Shiv Sena MLAs want Devendra Fadnavis as CM: BJP MP

Mumbai: With the Shiv Sena insisting on 50-50 power-sharing formula, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sanjay Kakade created a flutter in political circles  on Tuesday by claiming that 45 of the newly-elected Sena MLAs are keen on their party joining hands with the BJP. They want Devendra Fadnavis as their chief minister, he said.

The claim is being seen as a veiled threat to pressurise the Sena to toe the BJP’s line on the government formation.

Interestingly, Mr Kakade’s statement has come barely a few days after the reports of Sena MLAs insisting on equal power-sharing. They have reportedly demanded the post of chief minister for two-and-a-half-years each.

“Out of 56, there are 45 Sena MLAs who have expressed their interest in government formation along with the BJP. They have asked us to induct them into the government. The MLAs are saying they want to be a part of the government with BJP,” said Mr Kakade, who is BJP’s associate MP in the Rajya Sabha.

He added that the Sena MLAs have been saying “do whatever, but we want to be part of the government with BJP”.

“Nearly 45 MLAs of the Shiv Sena wish that their party should ally with the BJP to form the next government with Devendra Fadnavis as the chief minister,” Mr Kakade further said.

The Sena leaders, he said, have conveyed their wish to the BJP leadership.

“These 45 MLAs will convince Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to form an alliance government under the leadership of Mr Fadnavis,” he added.

The BJP and the Sena, which won 105 and 56 seats, respectively in the just concluded Vidhan Sabha polls, are yet to sort out their formula for sharing of power in the government formation.

 The Sena has demanded a written assurance from the BJP for implementing ‘equal formula for sharing of power’ before holding talks to form the next government in the state.

Digging its heels in, the party had demanded that the BJP gives the written assurance over “equal sharing of power” before any further talks are held on the formation of the next government.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had conducted a meeting with newly-elected party MLAs at his residence, Matoshree, on Saturday where the MLAs reiterated their demand that Aaditya Thackeray be made the chief minister.

“Uddhav Thackeray has taken a tough stand over sharing of power. He has demanded a written assurance from the BJP on the same,” said party MLAs.

In the recent polls to 288-member Assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to its 2014 tally. The Sena’s tally also came down to 56 seats from 63 in 2014.

A resurgent NCP won 54 and the Congress bagged 44 seats.