AMN / MUMBAI
The impasse over government formation is still on in Maharashtra. BJP delegation met the Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and apprised him of the prevailing political situation in the state.
Tomorrow is the last day of the term of current Maharashtra Assembly.
Talking to MEDIA after the meeting, BJP state president Chandrakant Patil admitted that it is taking more than normal time to forge an alliance between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.
He however exuded confidence that Fadnavis will lead the next government.
Alarmed by reports that the BJP has claimed the support of 182 MLAs, the Shiv Sena today took urgent measures to sequester its MLAs. An editorial in Saamana alleged that MLAs were being offered “bags of cash”.
After a meeting called by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his home “Matoshree”, the party moved all its MLAs – and some independents who supporting it – to hotel Rangsharda in Bandra.
The MLAs have been put up for two days at the hotel that is a couple of km from Matoshree and not far from either the Shiv Sena’s headquarters.
As the Sena guarded its MLAs, a group of BJP leaders met with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
“The Mahayuti (BJP-Sena alliance) has won a clear majority and based on that, a government should have been formed. We discussed with the Governor the implications and legal options in the circumsances,” said Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, adding that the party leadership would decide on the road ahead.
The BJP has refused to concede the Sena’s demand for a time-share on chief ministership in a “50:50 deal” Uddhav Thackeray says was discussed with BJP president Amit Shah.
At today’s meeting, Uddhav Thackeray reportedly asked MLAs why he would “waste 15 days” if he wanted to accept anything less than the chief minister’s post.
“The BJP met the governor but did not stake claim. Why didn’t it go with a list of MLAs supporting it? It shows that BJP is unable to raise a majority on its own. Why don’t they give up this lust for power and tell us they cannot form government,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.