Shiv Sena firm on CM post, asks BJP to not misuse interim govt norm

Sena said the BJP should approach the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only if it agrees to share the chief minister’s post with it

The Shiv Sena on Friday remained firm on its demand for sharing the chief minister’s post in Maharashtra and asked the BJP not to misuse the provision of “caretaker” government to remain in power in the state. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the BJP should approach the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only if it agrees to share the chief minister’s post with the junior saffron ally.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should resign as the term of the existing assembly is ending on November 9, the Sena spokesman while talking to reporters here. “The BJP shouldn’t prolong the caretaker provision and act from behind the curtains. We won’t mind if the BJP, as the single largest party, stakes claim and forms the government,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The Sena, insisting on equal distribution of portfolios and sharing the chief minister’s post with the BJP for 2.5 years each, will “soon” meet Governor B S Koshyari, said Raut, the executive editor of party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

After the term of an assembly ends, the governor becomes the guardian of the state, Raut said. To a question on Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s trip to Mumbai and possibility of him visiting ‘Matoshree’ (the residence of the Thackerays) to break the deadlock, Raut said,” Gadkari is a resident of Mumbai. There is no news that he is coming. “He will go to his house. Has he told you that he is bringing a letter giving the Sena 2.5 years of chief ministership.”