Mumbai, October 30: Despite a clear victory in Maharashtra assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena alliance has not yet staked its claim to form government in the state. On the other hand, in Haryana, the BJP has formed government despite falling short of the majority mark. In Maharashtra, BJP's traditional ally Shiv Sena is playing hardball over the distribution of portfolios and Chief Minister's chair, which the saffron party has refused to part with.

In 288-member Maharashtra assembly, a party or alliance need the support of 145 legislators to prove majority. The BJP bagged 105 seats on its own in assembly elections but needs 40 more seats to be able to form a government. Shiv Sena has 56 MLAs. The Congress won 44 seats, while its ally the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) clinched 54. As many as 13 independents were also elected. Since no party can form the government on its own, here are the ways Mission 145 can be achieved. Shiv Sena Should Accept Deputy CM Post For Aaditya Thackeray And Leave CM Chair For Devendra Fadnavis, Says Ramdas Athawale.

BJP Can Run Minority Government Like 2014:

In 2014, BJP formed a minority government when Shiv Sena acted pricey. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party sat in the opposition for days and the NCP backed BJP's minority government. Given the situation today, it's a deja vu for the state and the party. Sharad Pawar's party can again extend support to a minority BJP government. In exchange, Pawar may get relief from Enforcement Directorate.

NCP, Congress May Give Outside Support to Shiv Sena:

To keep BJP out of power, NCP and Congress may give outside support to a Shiv Sena government. This sounds ideologically off track but, as they say, there are no permanent enemies in politics but permanent interests. This coalition can also make a Thackeray the Chief Minister for the first time.

Can Independents And Smaller Parties Help BJP Form Government?

The BJP needs the support of 40 more MLAs to form a government on its own, regardless of Shiv Sena. If the BJP brings all 13 independents, which is highly unlikely as some of them have already backed Shiv Sena, the number goes up to 118. The saffron party would still need 27 seats. Smaller parties, which includes the BJP's ideological adversary All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), together have 16 legislators. In that rarest of the rare situation where the BJP will have even Asaduddin Owaisi backing BJP, the saffron party can't form the government on its own.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2019 12:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).