Talks with BJP will only be about the CM’s post: Sanjay Raut
The Rajya Sabha MP also dared the BJP to impose President’s rule in the state, saying such a step would be the party’s “biggest defeat of the century”
Amid the ongoing standoff between the incumbent coalition in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party will talk to the BJP only on the issue of the chief minister’s post.
The CM post is the biggest bone of contention between the BJP and Shiv Sena, which contested the October 21 state elections together.
The parties have been locked in an intense battle since the results were declared on October 24 and are yet to start formal talks over the formation of the government in the state.
“The impasse continues. There is no discussion on government formation as yet. If talks happen, it will only be on the issue of the chief minister’s post,” Raut told reporters.
Earlier, in his weekly column in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Rajya Sabha member likened the impasse over government formation to a “chariot stuck in the mud of arrogance”.
He dared the BJP to impose President’s rule in the state, saying such a step would be the party’s “biggest defeat of the century”.
His remarks came against the backdrop of the BJP’s stand that it will not share the chief minister’s post, and minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s comments that the state may head for President’s rule if the new government is not in place by November 7.
There was also speculation that the Shiv Sena may join hands with the NCP and form a government with outside support from the Congress. Some state Congress leaders have said the party should back the Sena to keep the BJP out of power.
In the recent polls to 288-member state Assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP-54, and Congress-44.
