AGENCIES / MUMBAI
The Shiv Sena today demanded written assurances from allies BJP as power-sharing. The party said the next course of action would be decided after the BJP gives assurances on the power-sharing deal in writing.
A meeting of the Sena’s 56 MLAs at Matoshree, the residence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray, concluded with demands for a letter, on BJP letterhead and signed by senior leadership, that confirms the BJP will honour a 50:50 deal agreed between Mr Thackeray and Home Minister Amit Shah ahead of Lok Sabha polls earlier this year.
“In our meeting it was decided that like Amit Shah-ji had promised 50-50 formula before Lok Sabha polls, similarly both allies should get chance to run government for 2.5-2.5 years. So Shiv Sena should also have Chief Minister. Uddhav-ji should get this assurance in writing from BJP,” Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik, the MLA from Ovala-Majiwada, said.
The MLAs said the next course of action would be decided after the BJP gives assurances on the power-sharing deal in writing.
The demand from the Sena MLAs came after Uddhav chaired the party’s first meeting since the declaration of the Maharashtra Assembly election results on Thursday. They also demanded Worli legislator Aaditya Thackeray be made the next Maharashtra chief minister.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik stated that the Shiv Sena chief said that they contested from less number of seats in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly seats to accommodate BJP and now they need “written assurances” on the power-sharing formula between the two allies.