We will "comfortably" form next government with Sena: BJP

The BJP in Maharashtra on Monday said it has the support of 15 Independent MLAs and asserted the party will "comfortably" form the next government taking the Shiv Sena along with it. The BJP's assertion comes amid the Shiv Sena's demand for an equal share in power and the two saffron parties occupying the chief minister's post on a rotational basis.

Besides its own 105 MLAs, the BJP has the support of 15 Independent MLAs, claimed party spokesperson Shweta Shalini. "There were some BJP (ticket) aspirants who got elected as independent MLAs. They have extended their support to the BJP, she told PTI. "I believe the BJP will form the next government comfortably taking the Shiv Sena along, Shalini said. "The Sena is aware of our position and the kind of support we are getting from the independent MLAs," she said.

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

Shalini said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will continue in the top post in the new government also. "It has already been announced that Devendra Fadnavis will be the chief minister of Maharashtra and he will be, she said. In the just-concluded polls to 288-member Assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to its 2014 tally. The Sena's tally also came down to 56 seats from 63 in 2014. A resurgent NCP won 54, while its ally Congress bagged 44 seats.

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

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. Moreover, Sena has put banners in the Worli constituency from where Aaditya Thackeray won the assembly polls declaring him as the next CM.

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

Poll results in Maharashtra 

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

(with PTI inputs)