Shiv Sena will eventually join us: BJP leader

Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar has again mocked the Shiv Sena, saying that the post of chief minister will be given to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only as Devendra Fadnavis himself is a Shiv Sainik.

Mr Mungantiwar has also claimed that the BJP will form the state government along with the Sena as the latter will go along with the BJP despite initial denials.

Mr Mungantiwar Thursday said that within a week, Mr Fadnavis will be sworn in as the chief minister and the swearing-in will be held both for the BJP and Sena.

The Sena will go along with the BJP saying “Na na karte pyar tumhi se kar baithe”. A week has passed since announcement of the Vidhan Sabha poll results but government formation talks between the BJP and Sena are still underway.

The Sena has been insisting on equal sharing of power, including the chief minister’s post.

According to sources however, the BJP has proposed a 13:26 formula, where 13 portfolios will be given to BJP’s alliance partners and 26 will be kept by the BJP.

Commenting on the proposed formula, Mr Mungantiwar said that the Sena deserves more than 13 portfolios. “We are still to discuss all these things but what I can say is that the Sena deserves more than 13 portfolios,” he said.

He also said that the meeting between the BJP and Sena top brass is likely to take place soon.

“Everything will be clear after the meeting and we will form the government before November 5. It is just a matter of 30 minutes and we will sort out everything and form the government,” he added.

The BJP, with 105 seats, has emerged the single largest party in the recently held Vidhan Sabha polls followed by the Sena with 56 seats. While both parties contested the elections together, they are fighting over power sharing, due to which government formation has been delayed.