Maharashtra Government Formation: Devendra Fadnavis May Take Oath as CM on October 31 or November 1 Despite No Signs of Truce With Shiv Sena

Mumbai, October 30: Despite ongoing tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its waring ally the Shiv Sena, Devendra Fadnavis could take oath as Chief Minister on October 31 or November 1. According to a report, the BJP leadership is hopeful that the Shiv Sena would relent on its demand for rotating chief ministerial post. BJP leaders believe that power will be shared on the basis of number of seats won by the two allies and not on sentiments.

"Fadnavis will take oath as CM on October 31 or November 1 and we are hopeful the Sena will join the government," a BJP source was quoted by TOI as saying. On Tuesday, Fadnavis himself expressed confidence that he will remain Chief Minister for the next five years. "I assure you that this will be a BJP-led government. The Shiv Sena was not promised CM's post for two-and-a-half years when the alliance was formalised before the Lok Sabha polls," he told reporters.

Reports suggest that the BJP brass is ready to give Deputy CM's post to the Shiv Sena. However, distribution of portfolios remains the bone of contention. "The Sena’s major objective is to seek the deputy CM’s post, possibly for Aaditya Thackeray, but the state BJP is reluctant to relent on that demand too. However, the main bargaining will be about distribution of portfolios," a Shiv Sena leader was quoted as saying. Shiv Sena Should Accept Deputy CM Post For Aaditya Thackeray And Leave CM Chair For Devendra Fadnavis, Says Ramdas Athawale.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday once again reminded the BJP of the 50-50 power-sharing formula and said it has other options as well. In a no-holds-barred attack on its ally BJP, Raut said: "There's no Dushyant Chautala here whose father is in jail. We do politics of truth in Maharashtra. If someone tries to keep us away from power, then it will not be the politics of truth. We are seeing what's happening and how low people can stoop."

Both the BJP and Sena, who have 105 and 56 seats, respectively, in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, are now exploring ways and means to form a government. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is bargaining hard for an equal share in the power, which means an equal number of ministries and the rotational Chief Minister's.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2019 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).