Maharashtra power tussle: Several MLAs extend support to CM Fadnavis

Amid power tussle in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena and BJP, several MLAs from various parties met with state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to extend ir support. During meeting, various issues including loss and dam to crops due to unseasonal rain and steps taken by state government to assist farmers were reportedly discussed. 

MLAs who extended ir support include-- Kshitij Thakur (Nalasopara) of Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi, Shyamsundar Shinde (Loha) of Peasants and Worker's Party and Vinay Kore of Jan Surajya Shakti while independent MLAs are -- Ravi Rana (Badnera), Sanjay Mama Shinde (Karmala), Geeta Jain (Meera Bhayander), Mahesh Baldi (Uran), Kishore Jorgewar (Chandrapur), Vid Agarwal (Gondia), Rajendra Raut (Barshi) and Prakash Anna Awhade (Ichalkaranji).

While Shiv Sena has been pushing for a 50-50 power-sharing agreement between two saffron allies in Maharashtra, however, Fadnavis has asserted that ally was t promised Chief Minister's post for two-and-a-half years when alliance was finalised prior to 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

READ| Maharashtra Congress leaders meet Sharad Pawar; mull Sena alliance

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut on Friday heaped praises for NCP chief Sharad Pawar, calling him a "big leader." Leaders from Shiv Sena had met Pawar and NCP members on Thursday leading to speculations that parties may form an alliance to form government in Maharashtra. He had furr added, that Maharashtra will have a chief minister from Shiv Sena.

Raut was asked by media about speculations that re was a positive feeling among Sena and NCP following ir meeting. Without giving away any hint of outcome of meeting, Raut said that people who meet Pawar feel positive as he is a big leader. "Whenever I meet with Sharad Pawar, or whoever meets him to talk about political, social issues, gets a positive indication as he is a big leader.

" ultimatum to BJP (on government formation). y are big people," Rajya Sabha MP said. If Sena decides, it can get required numbers to form a stable government in Maharashtra, he said. People have given mandate to form a government on basis of "50:50 formula" that was reached in front of people of Maharashtra, Raut said. In just-held state polls, BJP won 105 seats, while Sena got 56 in 288-member assembly.

Maharashtra assembly elections

saffron alliance--Mahayuti of BJP and Shiv Sena won a combined tally of 161 seats (BJP- 105, Sena -56). Maha-Agadhi alliance of NCP-Congress made a comeback as NCP bagged 54 seats while languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats in 288-seat assembly. Though BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.  

READ| Shiv Sena cancels BJP meet as Fadnavis denies sharing of CM's post

READ| Fadnavis credits Thackeray for Assembly win, confirms 'Mahayuti govt'

(With ANI inputs)