Sena calls video where Uddhav didn't dispute PM on CM Fadnavis 'public posturing'

In a veiled reference to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that Devendra Fadnavis was the Chief Minister face of the alliance, Shiv Sena deputy leader Priyanka Chaturvedi warned the BJP on Wednesday that her party too could reveal what really happened. She stated that Sena’s silence should not be construed as a weakness. Furthermore, she also refused to buy the argument that the PM had publicly endorsed Fadnavis as the CM candidate. Terming it as “public posturing”, she argued that BJP’s private agreement with the Sena was of more significance.  

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'We have not betrayed the mandate'

Earlier, Shah broke his silence on the collapse of BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra for the first time. He asserted that the BJP had not betrayed the mandate as it was ready to form the government with the Sena in the state. He stated that no one in the Sena objected when he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly asserted in public about Devendra Fadnavis being the Chief Ministerial candidate of the alliance. Shah revealed that Shiv Sena leaders came up with new demands post the declaration of results. He maintained that these demands were not acceptable to the BJP.

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He added, "We have not betrayed the mandate. We were ready to form the government with Shiv Sena. But Shiv Sena put forth some demands which we cannot fulfill. In public meetings, I must have said nearly 100 times, even the Prime Minister must have said several times and Devendra Fadnavis himself said that if our alliance comes back to power, the Chief Minister will be Devendra Fadnavis. No one contradicted this. Now, when new conditions are put forward, we have our reservations. The party will take a stand on this at the right time. But I want to say only this. That the uproar over the imposition of President's Rule is a futile exercise to gain the sympathy of the people."

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