Maharashtra: Independent MLA Manjula Gavit from Sakri backs Shiv Sena

Independent MLA Manjula Gavit on Wednesday extended support to Shiv Sena to form the government in Maharashtra. She is elected from the Sakri Assembly constituency. Gavit handed an official letter to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai's Matoshree stating that she supported the party. Earlier in the day, she was accompanied by Sena secretary Milind Narvekar in her meeting with Thackeray.

The development comes amid an ongoing tussle over government formation in Maharashtra between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena. Both are part of the 'Mahayuti' alliance along with other smaller allies. The Shiv Sena will hold a legislative party meeting at its headquarters in Mumbai on Thursday. Shiv Sena has got the support of at least five independent MLAs including Prahar Janshakti Party chief Bacchu Kadu, Rajkumar Patel, Ashish Jaiswal, Narendra Bhondekar and Shankarrao Gadakh.

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Ever since the BJP's tally fell in the recently-held assembly polls, results for which were announced on October 24, the Sena raised its pitch for a rotational chief ministership between the two parties for a period of 2.5 years. Sena MLAs last week demanded that Uddhav's son Aaditya, a first-time legislator, be made the Chief Minister. In the elections held for the 288-member House, 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.

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Shiv Sena cancels scheduled meeting with BJP

On Wednesday, CM Devendra Fadnavis asserted that he would continue to hold the Chief Minister's chair, dismissing the 50:50 formula talks between the two parties. Fadnavis on Tuesday reportedly stated that the BJP does not give importance to what Raut had said, who been consistently attacking its ally BJP. On Tuesday, Raut when questioned over the delay in government formation despite a pre-poll alliance, responded saying, "There is no Dushyant (Chautala) here whose father is in jail. Here it's us who do politics of 'dharma and satya' (ethics and truth) Sharad (Pawar) who created an environment against BJP and the Congress who will never go with BJP". Shortly after the public spat, Shiv Sena cancelled a scheduled meeting with BJP on Tuesday, October 29.

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(With ANI inputs)