Shiv Sena continues staking claim to CM’s position

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has not given up on his party’s claims to the chief minister’s post although he assured that the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party would be announced in a couple of days.

“I had made a ‘promise’ to Shiv Sena pramukh late Bal Thackeray that I will one day have a ‘Shiv Sainik’ (party worker) as the chief minister of Maharashtra. I have vowed to fulfill that promise,” he told activists at a party conclave Saturday.

Mr Thackeray’s statement assumes significance, coming on the back of reports that the Sena has agreed to play second fiddle to the Bharatiya Janata Party by contesting 126 seats in the 288 seat state Assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has been insisting that Devendra Fadnavis continue as chief minister after the Vidhan Sabha polls whereas the Sena has been supporting Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya for the chief minister’s post.

The Shiv Sena chief asserted that he wants power for the state this time.

“The last five years were of immense struggle. Despite this, you stood with me. If Shiv Sainiks trust me and stay with me, I can take whatever decision in politics,” he said.

Mr  Thackeray said that the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party will be announced soon.

“If the deal with Bharatiya Janata Party takes place, the Sena will not backstab. It is not in our blood to backstab. We oppose openly,” he said.

The Shiv Sena chief also tried to lift the morale of Sena activists by lauding them for “protecting the Hindus” during the riots of 1992-1993 in the city.

“Was it an offence to protect Hindus during those riots? But brave men like you protected the Hindus that time,” he said.

In the 2014 Assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena contested separately following a dispute over seat-sharing.

The Bharatiya Janata Party won 122 out of the 260 seats it had contested while the Shiv Sena bagged 63.

Both parties later joined hands to form a Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government.

In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, both parties decided to come together and contest. The saffron combine won 41 out of the 48 seats in the state.