Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena has reportedly set a deadline for BJP to decide on whether to forge an alliance. It comes a day after Uddhav attended Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ swearing-in ceremony after receiving a call from BJP president Amit Shah.
Reports say BJP has been asked by the Shiv Sena to take a final call on alliance before the vote of confidence. And that could happen on November 15, as Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has given Fadnavis’ minority government 15 days to hold a trust vote.
Sena sources say if BJP fails to finalise a deal by then, the party will not support the new government during the trust vote.
BJP with 121 seats needs at least 24 more to win the vote of confidence in the 288-member House. The party had originally won 122 seats but one of its MLAs died after the results were announced, bringing down the tally to 121. The party has now claimed support of all seven independent MLAs and some from smaller parties.
Sena, with 63 seats, is an ideal partner. However, BJP already has an offer of outside support from NCP, which has 41 seats. NCP had said it would abstain during the trust vote to help BJP government.
While delaying a decision on alliance, BJP has indicated that it is in favour of truck with Shiv Sena.
“Thackeray’s attendance was a big gesture. Talks are moving in the right direction,” Fadnavis had said after his swearing-in on Friday.
The small size of his Cabinet also indicates that BJP is ready to accommodate allies.
Sena, meanwhile, is believed to have agreed to the 2:1 formula representation in the government, whereby the Maharashtra party will have one minister for every two of BJP.
However, the party is reportedly demanding the post of deputy chief minister in the government.
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