Amid 50:50 tussle, BJP & Sena to meet Maharashtra governor separately

Even as Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis, in a veiled reference declared that the state will have a stable government under a BJP CM, its ally Shiv Sena is scheduled to meet the governor on Monday. Sources said that BJP will also meet the Maharashtra governor on Monday. Even though various leaders of Mahayuti alliance won a majority in the Maharashtra assembly election held on October 21, Sena has put forward a demand of 50:50 formula for the chief ministerial post. Sources said that both the parties have maintained that meeting with governor is to extend him Diwali greetings. 

While Shiv Sena's Diwakar Raote is scheduled to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 10.30 am, CM Devendra Fadnavis will visit the governor at 11 am. Both the parties have maintained that the meeting is a courtesy call after winning the elections. As per sources, BJP president Amit Shah will meet the Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to take a decision on the forming of the Maharashtra government. 

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: Amid Sena's 50-50 ultimatum, Fadnavis assures stable govt under BJP CM

Alliance partner Ramdas Athawale urges BJP to consider Sena's demand

Even as RPI's chief Ramdas Athawale has demanded one cabinet and one State minister berth in Maharashtra government, he has said that BJP must take Sena's demand seriously. Speaking to news agency ANI, he said that both parties should talk and that he will speak to both the party. Moreover, Athawale added that if BJP is not ready for the 50:50 formula, it must offer Sena Deputy CM post or a ministerial berth in the Central government.

READ: Maharashtra: 'We've got jhatka, will give rivals fatka,' says Athawale

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