The logjam over the formation of government in Maharashtra continued on Tuesday, as both the BJP and Shiv Sena were yet to commence formal talks. Moreover, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and senior leader JP Nadda, who had been appointed by the party as central observers, have also postponed their visit to Mumbai.
However, there were reports that two Shiv Sena leaders — Subhash Desai and Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai — arrived in Delhi late in the night on Tuesday for discussions with the BJP leadership.
A BJP official said the party is in no hurry to form the government as the State is under President’s rule, and that the process will gather speed only after Diwali. “These four days will also put psychological pressure on the Shiv Sena,” the official said.
He, however, added that talks were on behind the scenes, and that the Shiv Sena would prefer to share the portfolio, using the old formula when both parties had an alliance government in 1995. However, a tough task is ahead, said the official, since the BJP has emerged as a much bigger party than the Shiv Sena this time round.
The official added that the BJP is unlikely to have an alliance with the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), as Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had described the NCP as a ‘Naturally Corrupt Party’ and had asked voters to reject it.
BJP Maharashtra president Devendra Fadnavis, tipped to be the next Chief Minister, told media persons the State would soon have a BJP government. He, however, refused to share further details about the party’s negotiations with the Shiv Sena.
BJP’s allies, such as the Republican Party of India (Athavale), also want to participate in the Government. The RPI reportedly wants two ministers in the Government, although the party has not won a single seat in the Assembly election.
Addressing a press conference, RPI (Athavale) chief Ramdas Athavale said that though the party has not won any seat, the party’s votes have contributed to the victory of the BJP.