Maharashtra: Sanjay Raut claims Shiv Sena has support of 170 MLAs

Amidst the deadlock in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena senior leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that the party has 170 MLAs supporting them and that the figure can even reach 175. Raut while speaking to reporters also said that Shiv Sena does not play 'double games' and the party will take what is rightfully theirs. "This is not about pride or ego. They have a figure of 105. They should have staked their claim to form the government on October 24 itself," he further added. Earlier, Shiv Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' had stated that the BJP could not prove the majority if it claims to form the government without taking it on board. 

Raut dares to impose President Rule in Maharashtra

Sena leader, Raut earlier had dared the BJP to impose President's rule in the state, saying such a step would be the party's "biggest defeat of the century". His remarks came against the backdrop of the BJP's stand that it will not share the Chief Minister's post and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar's comments that the state may head for President's rule if the new government is not in place by November 7.

READ | Sanjay Raut: Talks With BJP Will Only Be On Chief Minister's Post

Sena's 50-50 formula

A day after the election results were announced, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, outside Uddhav Thackeray's residence Matoshree said that the Chief Ministerial post must be equally divided between BJP and Sena for 2.5 years each. He wanted BJP president Amit Shah to give the assurance in writing and to maintain the 50-50 formula that was sealed before polls. 

WATCH | Sanjay Raut Claims That Shiv Sena Has Numbers To Form Maha Govt

Maharashtra poll result

When the poll result was announced on October 24, the saffron alliance swept Maharashtra, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). But the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress)  made a comeback as the NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats. Though the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

READ | Owaisi On BJP-Sena CM Row: 'Is There A New 50-50 Biscuit In Market?'

READ | Shiv Sena Attacks BJP For Hinting At President's Rule In Maharashtra