Tussle over govt formation: Shiv Sena to lodge its MLAs in hotel for two days

New Delhi: Shiv Sena MLAs will be safely lodged in a hotel for next two days, said party leader Gulabrao Patil on Thursday.

The step can be seen as an attempt by Shiv Sena to keep their fold united. The move came after Shiv Sena MLAs met party Chief Uddhav Thackeray here at his residence “Matoshree” on Thursday.

Sanjay Raut: If you (BJP) have the numbers,form the govt. If you don’t have the numbers then admit it. Constitution is for the people of this country,it is not their (BJP’s) personal property.We know the constitution well.We’ll form CM of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra constitutionally https://t.co/Tw1YL3Ubvl

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

“We (Shiv Sena MLAs) will be staying at Hotel Rangsharda for next 2 days. We will do whatever Uddhav Sahab asks us to do,” said Shiv Sena MLA Gulabrao Patil.

The meeting came amidst the reports that Shiv Sena MLAs are being shifted to a resort to prevent any attempts of poaching, which the party had brushed aside as “rumours” while asserting that Shiv Sena legislators are committed to the party and there is no need to do so.

Shiv Sena is apparently putting all its weight behind its demand of making Aaditya Thackeray as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena: We have the numbers to make our own Chief Minister, we don’t need to show that here, we will show that on the floor of the house. We have alternatives, we don’t speak without options and alternatives. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/IPqf3BiCex

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

As the deadline of November 9 for government formation in Maharashtra is approaching fast, the Shiv Sena is not ready to settle for anything less than equal share in Cabinet portfolios and the Chief Minster’s post for 2.5 years.

The BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats in the recently held Assembly polls. The Shiv Sena got 56 seats in 288-member Vidhan Sabha.

LIVE UPDATES:

BJP delegation meets Governor

A delegation of MLAs met Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari today. State BJP president, Chandrakant Patil said that the people of Maharashtra have given the mandate to the ‘Mahayuti’ (alliance) and the BJP would form government in the state. “There is delay in government formation. Today, we met the Governor to discuss the legal options and the political situation in the state. Legalities were discussed and the governor was apprised of the scenario.”

Mumbai: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation comprising of Girish Mahajan, Chandrakant Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ashish Shelar met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari today. https://t.co/LoYNwyaBBq pic.twitter.com/uj12wlY8if

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

Meanwhile, the Sena MLAs will be staying at the Rangsharda hotel in Bandra after they met party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Sena MLAs authorise Uddhav for final call

The Shiv Sena MLAs have authorised party chief Uddhav Thackeray to take a “final decision” on government formation in Maharashtra.

Thackeray chaired a meeting of all party MLAs at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra, where the legislators also reiterated that the formula of “equal sharing of posts and responsibilities” agreed upon before the Lok Sabha polls should be implemented.

“The Sena MLAs passed a resolution authorising Uddhavji to take a final decision regarding government formation,” party legislator Shambhuraje Desai told reporters after the meeting ended. Desai denied that the Sena legislators will be shifted to a hotel in south Mumbai, amid fear of switching sides.

MLAs not shifted to any report, says Shiv Sena

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday dismissed reports that MLAs of his party are being shifted to a resort as rumours while asserting that Shiv Sena legislators are committed to the party and there is no need to do so.

“There is no need for us to do this, our MLAs are firm in their resolve and committed to the party. Those who are spreading such rumours should worry about their MLAs first,” said Sanjay Raut, here on Thursday.

Sanjay Raut,Shiv Sena on reports of Shiv Sena shifting its MLAs to a resort: There is no need for us to do this, our MLAs are firm in their resolve and committed to the party. Those who are spreading such rumours should worry about their MLAs first. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/PnWTzTLtqW

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

Deadline in Maharashtra

As the deadline to form the government in Maharashtra nears, Raut reiterated that the Chief Minister would be from Shiv Sena. “The Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena,” he said.

Sanjay Raut,Shiv Sena: The Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena. https://t.co/ebV8TSny18 pic.twitter.com/HjNfeAKvrG

— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2019

“Shivsena is an alliance partner of @BJP4India and part of #Mahayuti If it feels scared that #BJP will poach their MLAs, then we can very well understand how much #BJP is morally corrupt and why we must save Maharashtra from them. Does #Mahayuti have moral rights to form govt now?” tweeted Congress leader Sachin Sawant.

Shiv Sena is apparently putting all its weight behind its demand of making Aaditya Thackeray as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

As the deadline of November 9 for government formation in Maharashtra is fast approaching, the Shiv Sena is not ready to settle for anything less than equal share in Cabinet portfolios and the Chief Minster’s post for 2.5 years.

The BJP has emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats in the recently held Assembly polls. The Shiv Sena got 56 seats in 288-member Vidhan Sabha. (ANI)