Maharashtra Government Formation: Shiv Sena Fumes Over Devendra Fadnavis's Statement on 50:50 Formula, Uddhav Thackeray Cancels Meeting With Amit Shah

Mumbai, October 29: The political tussle for the Chief Minister post in Maharashtra entered into a new exciting turn on Tuesday after Shiv Sena parliamentarian Sanjay Raut confirmed the cancellations of the scheduled meeting between its party chief Uddhav Thackeray and BJP president Amit Shah. The recent development arrived soon after incumbent CM Devendra Fadnavis claimed that nothing was promised to Shiv Sena on power-sharing.

Confirming the cancellation of the scheduled meeting, Raut said, "Discussions between BJP-Shiv Sena were scheduled for 4 pm today. But if the CM himself is saying that the '50-50 formula' was not discussed then what will we even talk about? On what basis should we talk to them? So Uddhav Ji has cancelled today's meeting." Maharashtra Government Formation: Devendra Fadnavis Rejects Shiv Sena's 50:50 Formula, Says 'I Will Remain CM For 5 Years'.

Raut also informed that BJP had promised the CM seat before the Assembly elections, but now they are saying nothing was guaranteed. He said, "CM himself had uttered the '50-50 formula', Uddhav ji had spoken about it too. It happened before Amit Shah. Agar ab ye kehte hain ki aisi koi baat hui nahi to main pranaam karta hoon aisi baaton ko (Now if they say that nothing on this was discussed, then I won't say anything more on this). He is denying what he had said before the camera."

Attacking the Chief Minister, Raut said, "I don't know what the CM has said. If he is saying that the '50-50 formula' was never discussed, then I think we need to change the definition of truth. What was considered, regarding the issue the CM is talking about, is known by all. The media was there."

Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not have an agreement with the Sena for equally sharing power in the state government. He had said, "There was no formula to split the chief minister's post... we have given no such formula...Our party president (Amit Shah) has confirmed that nothing has been decided on CM post to Shiv Sena." Shiv Sena Should Accept Deputy CM Post For Aaditya Thackeray And Leave CM Chair For Devendra Fadnavis, Says Ramdas Athawale.

Reacting in the possibility of a break-up between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, Fadnavis ruled it out and said that "a stable and efficient government of Mahayuti (alliance) will run for 5 years". In the recently concluded elections, the BJP won 105 seats, down from 122 that it had bagged in 2014, falling way short of the majority mark of 145. Shiv Sena's tally also went down from 63 to 56.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 29, 2019 05:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).