Sanjay Raut: 'Shiv Sena can get two-third majority, form stable govt'

Even as the government formation in Maharashtra remains uncertain amid Shiv Sena's demand to share the chief ministerial post, Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that his party can get the numbers if they want to. Speaking to news agency ANI, Raut said that Sena can prove the two-third majority if they want. He reiterated that the Mahayuti alliance has gotten the people's mandate. He has reportedly also said that BJP president Amit Shah does not need to interfere in the matter. He also said that Sena will form the govt if BJP is unable to form it. 

"If Shiv Sena decides, it'll get the required numbers to form stable government in the state. People have given mandate to form government on basis of 50-50 formula that was reached in front of people of Maharashtra. They want Chief Minister from Shiv Sena," Raut said. 

He also added: "We don't want to disturb BJP but, it is the single largest party they should stake the claim of forming the govt.
Amit Shah told that our leaders should decide but our leaders and BJP are clearly failing to arrive at a conclusion. If the single largest party is not forming the govt, I assure people of Maharashtra that Sena will give a stable govt."

READ:Congress-Sharad Pawar huddle up; mull possible Sena alliance: Sources

Sena meets Sharad Pawar

In a major political development on Thursday, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence, as per sources. Sources further report that the meeting was unofficial and occurred at the same time when a Sena delegation headed by Eknath Shinde- Shiv Sena legislative party chief and Aaditya Thackeray met with the Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan. While both parties have allegedly stated that they exchanged Diwali greetings, sources speculate that Sena might be in talks with NCP-Congress about government formation.

READ:Sanjay Raut meets Sharad Pawar after Cong-NCP discuss Sena alliance

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: Don't compel us to look for alternative, Raut warns ally BJP

Maharashtra poll result

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 '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: Farmer wants to be Maharashtra CM till Sena-BJP row on post ends