RSS to mediate between BJP & Sena amid Maharashtra impasse: Sources

Non-political organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will be mediating negotiations between BJP and Shiv Sena about their difference over power-sharing in Maharashtra say sources. Shiv Sena has refused to budge from the demands for the chief minister post for Uddhav Thackeray and 50:50 power-sharing formula. The party has not been refusing to take calls from BJP leaders, the sources added.

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Development after Fadnavis met RSS chief

On Tuesday, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Nagpur. They spoke for an hour and a half. The information about RSS becoming the mediator for BJP and Shiv Sena comes a day after Fadnavis meeting with Bhagwat. 

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Shiv Sena refuses to budge

On Wednesday morning, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the party has not given up its demand for the chief minister post for Uddhav Thackeray and 50:50 power-sharing formula. Raut has earlier claimed that 170 MLAs had given support to the party. ""This is not about pride or ego. They have a figure of 105. They should have staked their claim to form the government on October 24 itself," he said. The party mouthpiece has been slamming BJP over several political events unfavourable to its political standing and claimed that it can't form the majority government without the Shiv Sena. 

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Sena leader calls for Gadkari to intervene

Amid the impasse over government formation in Maharashtra, farm activist Kishore Tiwari, who joined the Shiv Sena ahead of the Assembly polls, has said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should depute Union minister Nitin Gadkari to resolve the power-tussle between the BJP and the Sena. In a letter to Bhagwat, Tiwari said the RSS chief should take a serious note of the situation and intervene to end the deadlock over government formation in Maharashtra.

READ | Devendra Fadanvis meets RSS chief Bhagwat amid Maharashtra impasse

After the poll results,  BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats while Shiv Sena got 56 in the 288-member state Assembly. The results of assembly polls were announced on October 24