As a bitter battle continues between allies Shiv Sena and BJP over power-sharing in the next Maharashtra government, backchannel negotiations have thrown up the possibility of Devendra Fadnavis becoming the chief minister for a full term with two deputies--one from each party.
Speaking to NDTV, anonymous party sources said negotiations between the two parties have resulted in the one chief minister, two deputies plan. It is still contrary to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's demand for sharing the chief ministerial post between the two allies on a rotational basis.
The plan is being seen as a reflection of the BJP's power-sharing models in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
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While Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has two deputies to help him with the governance of the large state, JJP leader Dushyant Chautala was appointed as Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar's deputy in the recently formed coalition government in the state.
But Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has described as rumours reports that his party has softened its stand on the issue of sharing power in Maharashtra with the BJP.
"The (reports that) Sena has softened, has compromised and relinquished equitable distribution of posts, are all rumours," he tweeted.
BJP has not agreed to Thackeray's demand to share the chief minister's post but has reportedly offered key portfolios to its junior ally.
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The Shiv Sena held its legislature party meeting today and elected Eknath Shinde as its leader again.
However, Sena's tone has not changed yet as it appears determined to have power at the helm. The Sena, which won 56 seats in the elections, has so far enlisted the support of six MLAs, taking its strength to 62 in the 288-member House.
On Wednesday, Sena leader Raut said that Sena will draw the "kundli (star chart)" of Maharashtra. "The Governor will invite whoever has the figure of 145 or the largest party, but even they have to prove majority on the floor of the house," he was quoted as saying by the PTI.
The BJP, which bagged 105 seats and needs Sena's numbers to prove majority, is also shoring up support. It has won over at least six MLAs, most of whom are party rebels who had contested as Independent nominees.
Thackeray has been claiming an arrangement for a rotational CM's post was agreed upon during a formula discussed by himself, Fadnavis and BJP chief Amit Shah ahead of the 2019 polls. However, irked by Fadnavis’ statement on Tuesday that Sena was never promised the post of the CM for an equal period, Thackeray had cancelled power-sharing talks with the BJP.
Further, in its editorial mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena has said the deadlock between the two parties is not just over the power-sharing but also over past events.
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The editorial pointed out that it is not just a "deadlock" but a "chakravyuh" for the Sena as the BJP was using the party whenever they are in need.
While Sena clarified that BJP is not their political enemy, it indicated that the party could look at other options in future if things do not work out with its current ally.
