MUMBAI: Tension between BJP and Shiv Sena, which had showed signs of abating on Wednesday, flared up again on Thursday. Sena President Uddhav Thackeray told his party legislators he would not settle for anything but the Maharashtra CMs post and that Congress and NCP were in touch with the party.
On Thursday evening, Sena MP Sanjay Raut made what he described as a “courtesy call” on NCP chief Sharad Pawar at the latters residence in Mumbai, further fuelling speculation that Sena was trying to build pressure on BJP.
While senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi told the media that CM Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav spoke to each other on Thursday morning, sources said no formal discussion on power-sharing had begun.
In the evening, Sena MLAs met governor B S Koshyari, apparently over the plight of farmers hit by unseasonal rains, but the meeting was seen as a pressure tactic. The warring allies had met the governor separately on Monday.
Addressing his MLAs at Sena Bhavan in the afternoon, Uddhav said the party would have talks with BJP provided the latter admitted a 50:50 power-sharing deal had been reached between the allies prior to this years Lok Sabha polls.
On Fadnavis statement that BJP had given Sena no assurance about sharing the CMs post, Uddhav said, “Whats the point in having further talks if you (BJP) are not admitting the formula had been finalised? The CM should not have spoken like that when only three of us — Amit Shah, Devendraji and I —were part of that meeRead More – Source
