Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant willing to step down as minister if required

Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai South Arvind Sawant while speaking to Republic TV on Sunday said that he will resign from the post of Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises if advised by his party chief, Uddhav Thackeray, amid the BJP refusing to form a government in Maharashtra and daring the Shiv Sena to do so. This comes as the NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik in a statement said that they are ready to support Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra if they resign from the Centre, break relations with the BJP, and they send a proposal. 

Arvind Sawant’s statement 

After the NCP said that the government formation with Shiv Sena will only be possible if they completely break ties with BJP, the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Arvind Sawant told Republic TV that “I will do according to what Uddhav Thackeray decides...  If he asks me to step down, I’m ready to do it”. 

Read: Arvind Sawant lauds the imposition of NRC, demands the same in Mumbai

NCP Spokesperson Nawab Malik on an alliance with Shiv Sena 

Nawab Malik while speaking to Republic TV laid down a few demands by his party before entering a post-poll alliance and forming the government with Shiv Sena. He said, “If the governor is calling Shiv Sena, then it has to first announce that they are not in the NDA. They must part from the Bharatiya Janata Party and they must give a proposal (to the NCP) on how they want to go ahead. So, until and unless they resign from the Centre, they break relation with the BJP, they sent a proposal to us, no decision can be announced".

Watch: Now, Arvind Sawant comes in support of Aaditya Thackeray as CM, says 'Maharashtra is waiting for him'

BJP not forming the government in Maharashtra 

Addressing a press conference after meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, BJP leader Chandrakant Patil declared that they would not form the government in Maharashtra. He said that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena can stake claim to form the government and accused Sena of betraying the mandate of the people of Maharashtra. "In the elections, BJP, RPI, Sena and other parties were given a mandate. Yesterday, the Governor invited the BJP to form the government. We fought for the alliance, got votes for the alliance. Sena does not want to be part of the alliance. Sena chose to insult the mandate. We won't form the government. We informed the Governor. If Sena has to go with NCP, Congress, we wish them good luck." 

Read: MP govt ask IAS officers' association to pay pending rent over Rs 34L

Read: MUM vs MP Dream11 prediction, top picks, analysis, and match updates