No longer a minister, Arvind Sawant uncowed on 'Sena CM'; says 'whoever Uddhav picks'

After resigning from the Union cabinet, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday said that whatever happened between the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the past few days is over and the good thing is that the party has started discussions with NCP and Congress. While speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "Shiv Sena and the BJP held talks over the CM post, we waited and it did not happen. So we initiated talks with the Congress and NCP. Now whatever has happened with the BJP is past and the good thing is we have started talks with Congress and NCP."

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'Shiv Sena won't leave its ideology'

When questioned about the next CM of Maharashtra, the former Union minister asserting confidence said, "100 per cent, the next Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena. We will agree with our Chief Uddhav Thackeray on whoever he wants to make the Chief Minister." He also stated that the Shiv Sena will not leave its ideology and made a jibe at the BJP. He said, "We won't leave our ideology ever, go and ask the party who did not follow it's ideology and allied with Mehbooba Mufti's party." He added that the Shiv Sena even supported the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls in the country even though it thought that BJP may return to power at the Centre. The Shiv Sena MP speaking about the 50-50 formula said, "I still do not understand what the BJP would have lost if they had agreed for the 50-50 formula for the CM post. They were selfish and they should have shown been a bit more accommodative."

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Arvind Sawant resigns

Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant resigned on Monday, 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," he 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 in the press conference.

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