Sena MLAs back demand for CM, leave final decision on Uddhav

During a crucial meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs on Thursday, the party legislators endorsed party President Uddhav Thackeray’s stand of 50:50 power-sharing formula and authorised him to take a “final decision” on government formation.

Thackeray had summoned MLAs for an urgent meeting at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Bandra earlier today.

During the meeting, the legislators upheld the party’s stance of “equal sharing of posts and responsibilities” agreed upon before the Lok Sabha polls and gave full authority to their chief “to take any decision as he deems fit”.

It has been decided that Sena will not compromise on sharing the post of Chief Minister for 30 months each and also 50:50 power-sharing formula that was decided earlier.

The MLAs also unanimously declared that only after the BJP agrees to adhere to its promises, would the Sena extend support to it.

“We have given full authority to the Sena chief and his decision will be the final word for us. The CM will be only from Shiv Sena with equal power-sharing as decided earlier,” Sena MLA Abdul Sattar Nabi told media persons after the meeting.

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders led by state party chief Chandrakant Patil, ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Ashish Shelar are scheduled to call on Governor B.S. Koshyari at Raj Bhavan later today.

In the recently concluded polls, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.

However, the incumbent combine of BJP and Shiv Sena hasn’t staked claim to form a government amid an ongoing standoff over the CM’s post, even as back-channel negotiations continue.

In the last few days, Sena had initiated talks with NCP-Congress over the possibility of forming a government with their support.

However, on Wednesday, Sharad Pawar put an end to the speculation saying that BJP-Sena should form the government in the state since they had secured the people’s mandate.