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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Shiv Sena sends emissaries to negotiate with BJP
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Shiv Sena sends emissaries to negotiate with BJP

Shiv Sena leaders fly to Delhi to meet observers appointed by BJP high command to oversee govt formation

The talks between the leaders of the former Maharashtra alliance partners are likely to be followed by a meeting between Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and BJP president Amit Shah on Friday or Saturday. Photo: Hindustan TimesPremium
The talks between the leaders of the former Maharashtra alliance partners are likely to be followed by a meeting between Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and BJP president Amit Shah on Friday or Saturday. Photo: Hindustan Times

Mumbai: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) playing hardball, Shiv Sena leaders Subhash Desai and Anil Desai flew to Delhi on Tuesday evening to meet BJP general secretary J.P. Nadda and home minister Rajnath Singh—observers appointed by the party high command to oversee government formation in Maharashtra.

The talks between the leaders of the former Maharashtra alliance partners are likely to be followed by a meeting between Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and BJP president Amit Shah on Friday or Saturday. Senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut confirmed that the duo have left for Delhi, adding: “Let’s see how things work out. After that, we will take a call on Uddhavji going to Delhi."

“The Sena has no agenda other than keeping Maharashtra united and prosperous, and if our condition is met, then we have no qualms about giving unequivocal support to BJP," said another Sena leader who did not want to be named.

Though the BJP did not include the issue of statehood for Vidarbha in its assembly election manifesto, its leader have always insisted that the BJP’s ideological position is that small states are better governed and fulfil people’s aspirations better.

Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Thackeray said: “If needed, Sena is ready to sit in the opposition and Sena on its own will not approach any party with a proposal for alliance. However, we will consider the possibility of alliance if someone sends a proposal to us."

Thackeray’s remarks were seen as posturing as the party’s bargaining power vis-à-vis the BJP was greatly reduced when Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party announced it was ready to lend outside support to a BJP government.

The BJP won 122 seats in the 288-seat Maharashtra assembly. One legislator from its poll ally Rashtriya Samaj Party was also elected, which left the BJP in search of 22 legislators with whose support it could form a government.

The NCP has 41 members and the Shiv Sena 63 seats.

Immediately after the results came in on Sunday, BJP leaders got in touch with seven independents and the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) party, which has three legislators, and secured the support of the BVA legislators and several of the independents.

“The Sena seems to have realized that if they don’t cooperate with the BJP, the BJP will walk out of alliances in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, Thane, Aurangabad and other municipal bodies and then the Sena will be completely marginalized in the state’s politics," said Prakash Akolkar, political editor of the Marathi newspaper Sakal.

Meanwhile, the race for the chief minister’s post heated up with 40 party legislators from Vidarbha meeting Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari at his residence in Nagpur and requesting him to return to Maharashtra and take up the CM’s job.

“I have already said I am happy in Delhi and I have no intention to return to the state, but I will abide by whatever decision party high command takes," Gadkari said.

The other front-runners for the post of chief minister are state BJP president Devendra Fadanvis; leader of the opposition in the legislative council Vinod Tawade; leader of the opposition in the previous assembly Eknath Khadse; Pankaja Munde, daughter of the late Union minister Gopinath Munde, and former state president Sudhir Mungantiwar.

The jostling for the post forced the party to postpone a meeting of its legislators called on Tuesday to elect the leader of party’s legislative wing. The meeting will now take place after Diwali festivities, which ends on Saturday in Maharashtra.

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Published: 22 Oct 2014, 12:11 AM IST
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