Amidst tussle for power, BJP and Shiv Sena meet Governor separately

Amid the battle of the CMship and over-sharing of power in the next State Government, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Shiv Sena senior leader and Transport Minister Diwakar Raote separately met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday. Speaking to the media outside Raj Bhavan, Diwakar Raote said, “I had come to share Diwali greetings with the Governor. I have been doing this every year. The Governor is scheduled to leave the city, so he had given me time at 10:30 AM. I did not discuss any political matter with him today.” Whereas CM Devendra Fadnavis tweeted, "Met Hon Governor Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji this morning at RajBhavan, Mumbai and wished him on the occasion of Diwali. Also apprised him on the current scenario."

BJP-Sena's tug of war

The BJP and Shiv Sena are currently engaged in a tug-of-war over the government formation, four days after the assembly results were announced on October 24. On Saturday, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had sought a written assurance from the BJP on the “50:50 formula” that includes sharing the CM’s post for 2.5 years each. While Fadnavis has confidently reiterated that the BJP-Sena ‘Maha-Yuti’ (grand alliance) will return to power. A source close to the BJP leadership said, “Since the BJP is the single largest party, the Governor will have no option but to call Fadnavis for the formation of the government.’’ Political analysts also suggest that a weakened seat count of the BJP has given an upper hand to the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. 

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Maharashtra Assembly polls

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won an absolute majority in the Maharashtra Assembly polls with the former emerging as the single largest party in the State with 105 seats. In recent elections, BJP won 105 seats compared to 122 in 2014. Even Shiv Sena's seat count went down to 56 from 63 in 2014, however, the party stays adamant that it wants one of its leaders as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Aaditya Thackeray, who recently secured his maiden electoral win from the Worli seat, is being mooted as the favourite Shiv Sena candidate to be the Chief Minister.

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