Ramdas Athawale: Shiv Sena Should Accept Deputy Chief Minister's Post

Even as Mahayuti alliance partners remains undecided on upcoming government formation in Maharashtra, RPI chief Ramdas Athawale has said that BJP should give deputy chief minister's post to Shiv Sena. Speaking to news ncy ANI, Athawale said: "I don't think BJP will agree for rotational Chief Minister, but position of Deputy Chief Minister can be given to Shiv Sena for 5 years. I think Shiv Sena should accept Deputy Chief Minister's position for Aditya Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis should be Chief Minister," Athawale said.

Athawale reiterated his stance that BJP and Sena will form government toger as per people's mandate, but BJP can provide a ministerial berth to Sena in order to satisfy m, if y are adamant to give Deputy CM post in Maharashtra. " claim on chief ministerial post is certainly of BJP. Shiv Sena says that only 124 seats were given to m. y could also be given ministerial post at Centre," he added.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Shiv Sena's Diwakar Raote met Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 10.30 am, while, CM Devendra Fadnavis visited goverr at 11 am. Both parties maintained that meeting was informal and thing related to politics or formation of an upcoming government was discussed. Even after five days after poll result, saffron party remains undecided about government formation in state. 

READ: RPI's Ramdas Athawale urges BJP to consider Sena's 50:50 ultimatum

Alliance partner Ramdas Athawale urges BJP to consider Sena's demand

Even as RPI's chief Ramdas Athawale has demanded one cabinet and one State minister berth in Maharashtra government, he has said that BJP must take Sena's demand seriously. Speaking to news ncy ANI, he said that both parties should talk and that he will speak to both party. Moreover, Athawale added that if BJP is t ready for 50:50 formula, it must offer Sena Deputy CM post or a ministerial berth in Central government.

READ: Amid 50:50 tussle, BJP & Sena to meet Maharashtra goverr separately

Sena's 50-50 formula

A day after election results were anunced, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, outside Uddhav Thackeray's residence Matoshree said that Chief Ministerial post must be equally divided between BJP and Sena for 2.5 years each. He wanted BJP president Amit Shah to give assurance in writing and to maintain 50-50 formula that was sealed before polls. Moreover, Sena has put banners in Worli constituency from where Aaditya Thackeray won assembly polls declaring him as next CM.

READ: Locked in power tussle, BJP and Sena try to win over Independent MLAs

Poll results in Maharashtra 

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

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