Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday as the saffron party and its ally Shiv Sena continue their feud over government formation in the state.
"We are not going to comment on what others are saying on government formation. The Maharashtra government will be formed soon. I am confident," Fadnavis told the media after the meeting.
Unlike the last assembly elections, the BJP and the Shiv Sena this time fought elections in alliance with each other. The BJP won 105 seats and the Shiv Sena 56 in the 288-seat assembly.
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The two parties are caught in a stalemate over the chief minister's post, with the Sena demanding an equal division of the top post's tenure and the BJP rejecting it.
Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who has been repeatedly attacking the BJP in his public comments, said his party will now only talk to its ally on the question over the chief minister's post.
Meanwhile, Raut has also scheduled a meeting today with the state's governor, which he called a 'courtesy' visit.
Maharashtra's government formation has been delayed since results of the Assembly elections came out on October 24. The state could end up under the president's rule if the government is not formed within November 7.
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Thus, the meeting between Shah and Fadnavis is seen to be significant at this moment. However, the official reason for Fadnavis' meeting with Shah is to seek more help from the centre for a package for Maharashtra's farmers whose crops have been affected by unseasonal rains.
This meeting between Shah and Fadnavis comes in the backdrop of Shiv Sena's CM aspirant Aditya Thackeray visit to areas like Kudal in Sindhudurg district to interact with farmers.
The Thackeray junior promised to be with the farmers whose crops were hit by unseasonal rains.
Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is in the national capital as well and slated to meet interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday afternoon.
