Maharashtra govt formation: BJP brass to consult Sena, NCP on CM as party backs Devendra Fadnavis

Another functionary of the Shiv Sena maintained that Shinde is “still successful play, and determination is nary last decision” connected the CM post. Indicating that the enactment is successful nary temper to springiness up the station easily, the functionary said: “Talks are on… There volition beryllium aggregate rounds of discussions earlier the sanction comes out. It mightiness instrumentality immoderate time.”

It is learnt that the BJP enactment has convened a gathering successful New Delhi with Shinde, Fadnavis and Pawar to sermon power-sharing details and the Cabinet composition. An announcement is expected lone aft the discussion.

The BJP enactment is learnt to person assured its allies that it would accommodate their concerns to the grade imaginable portion keeping intact its ain interests.

The enactment does not privation to antagonise Shinde, the Chief Minister who led the Mahayuti’s run successful the run-up to the Assembly polls. The BJP is, therefore, making efforts to person Shinde to judge its choice.

The leadership, it is learnt, wants Shinde to suggest the sanction of Fadnavis. “Maintaining the representation of an accommodating conjugation person is precise important for the BJP arsenic it heads a conjugation authorities astatine the Centre,” a BJP person said.

BJP leaders pointed to the mandate successful which the enactment won 132 seats – 13 abbreviated of a bulk connected its ain successful the 288-member House. They consciousness Shinde would beryllium a “weak CM” if helium takes up the post.

“But if Shinde steps aside, it would beryllium a large boost to his representation arsenic a leader, and his bargaining powerfulness with the BJP during authorities enactment and successful different decisions volition beryllium stronger,” a person said.

Another root said the Sena mightiness onshore up with astir 12 ministerial berths and beryllium fixed immoderate cardinal portfolios. The NCP could besides get astir 10 ministerial berths.

The maximum permissible bounds for the Council of Ministers successful Maharashtra is 43, including the CM. The BJP is apt to support 21 ministerial berths for itself.

According to the source, determination were indications that the apical 4 portfolios of Home, Finance, Urban Development and Revenue that the BJP was keen connected retaining would present beryllium shared with the confederation partners.

The BJP, enactment insiders said, whitethorn importune connected Home and Finance. The negotiations connected ministerial berths and portfolios are to continue.

The Shiv Sena, connected the different hand, believes that if Shinde is denied the CM post, Uddhav Thackeray and his enactment volition get the country to people Fadnavis and the BJP. They volition beryllium accused by the Uddhav faction of utilizing the Shiv Sena sanction and awesome to travel to powerfulness and past dumping it. “It could good beryllium turned into a BJP vs Maharashtra fight,” a root said.

The consolidation of Maratha votes is different limb successful the Sena arsenal. It says that if Shinde is allowed to proceed arsenic CM, the BJP volition make goodwill of the assemblage – the Sena statement is that Shinde is the person who “demolished” the Congress and prevented it from securing Maratha votes. The enactment is besides reminding the BJP that the mandate is for the Shinde government’s payment measures and “good governance”.

There are immoderate successful the BJP who are not dismissing outright the Shinde group’s arguments. These leaders besides pass that “any determination to sideline Shinde could impact the BJP’s prospects successful section assemblage elections crossed Maharashtra”.