'Shiv Sena not part of NDA meeting', informs BJP leader Prahlad Joshi

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi on Sunday, November 17, said ex-ally Shiv Sena will not be participating in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting at the Parliament library building. The BJP-led NDA will reportedly go ahead with the winter session of Parliament in spite of Sena's non-participation. Joshi reasoned the resignation of Sena leader Arvind Sawant from the post of Union Minister of Heavy Industries for the move.

"Shiv Sena is not coming to the NDA meeting. Their minister Arvind Sawant has resigned. They're trying to work with Congress, so naturally, they've opted to sit in the opposition and we've agreed to that. We're allotting them a seat in opposition both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha", Prahlad Joshi told reporters ahead of the meeting.

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Arvind Sawant resigns

Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant resigned on November 11, calling himself a "true Shiv Sainik". Amid uncertainty over government formation in Maharashtra, Sawant's resignation from PM Modi's cabinet came as a significant development in the ongoing Maharashtra political crisis. "Our alliance in the state is dead and a new government is going to be formed. In such a situation, for me to continue in my post is not moral or appropriate. Hence, I have tendered my resignation to Prime Minister Modi", Sawant said. On being asked if the Shiv Sena has separated from the NDA at the Centre, he added, "As I have already submitted my resignation to PM Modi, you can understand what it means," he said at the press conference.

READ | Arvind Sawant Resigns From Modi Cabinet: 'Immoral For Me To Continue'

BJP-Shiv Sena fallout

The BJP-Shiv Sena's 'Mahyuti' of 35 years fell out at the state-level with Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray insisting a 50-50 sharing of Chief Minister post for 2.5 years and portfolios and former CM Devendra Fadnavis refusing to these demands. Both parties are eyeing to form the next government separately in Maharashtra – which is currently under the President's rule. While the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress is still in talks to finalise the Common minimum programme to form an alliance, the BJP has vowed that it will form the next government. The Mahayuti alliance had swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56).

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