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

Even as the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra swept the assembly polls, Shiv Sena has given an ultimatum to BJP to follow the 50:50 formula. Speaking on the same, BJP alliance partner RPI's chief Ramdas Athawale on Saturday said that both parties should talk and BJP should take the demands of Sena seriously. He added that he will speak to both the party. Moreover, Athawale added that if BJP is not ready for the 50:50 formula, it must offer Sena Deputy CM post or a ministerial berth in the Central government.

"We have got the mandate to form government. We cannot form the government without Shiv Sena. So BJP must think about their proposal seriously. BJP must think that if they do not agree with 50:50 formula, then they must do whatever satisfies the Sena, like offering a ministerial berth in Central government. I will speak to both parties. They need to take decision within 4-5 days," Athawale told news agency ANI.

Earlier, Athawale too stated his party's demand. Speaking to the media, Athawale said, "We demand one cabinet and one State minister berth in Maharashtra government. Amit Shah will visit Mumbai to hold discussions with Uddhav Thackeray on who all will be made Ministers in the State cabinet." 

READ: Mumbai: Newly elected Sena MLAs to meet Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree

Shiv Sena's ultimatum 

Shiv Sena on Saturday has issued an ultimatum to BJP stating that party chief Amit Shah and CM Devendra Fadnavis should issue a written statement assuring that the CM post will be shared equally for 2.5 years each. Speaking to reporters outside Matoshree, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik has said that Uddhav Thackeray is of the opinion that the 50:50 formula promised by BJP prior to the polls, as discussed in the party's legislative meeting on Saturday. Sena MLAs has been demanding for Aaditya Thackeray to be made the CM.

READ: Sena issues ultimatum to BJP: 'No govt till 50:50 formula for CM post'

Shiv Sena's growing power over BJP?

With BJP's diminished final tally of 105 compared to 122 in 2014 the Sena improved its strike rate securing 56 of 124 seats contested compared to 63 seats of the 282 seats. Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray has also reminded CM Fadnavis of the 50:50 alliance agreed upon prior to the polls, after the victory. Apart from this, posters were also spotted in Worli on Friday, demanding Yuva Sena chief and newly elected MLA Aaditya Thackeray be made CM; which has been a long-standing Sena demand.  

READ: No proposal to join Sena to keep BJP out of power: Balasaheb Thorat 

Poll results in Maharashtra 

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on Thursday, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56) to award CM Devendra Fadnavis a second term. But the comeback of the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) took the Mahayuti by surprise 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: Maharashtra polls: NOTA percentage sees significant rise in 2019