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‘CM will be from Shiv Sena… Maharashtra politics is changing’: Sanjay Raut
The deadline for government formation is November 9, when the term of the current legislative assembly expires. If no government is in place by the end of the tenure of the current assembly, President’s Rule could be imposed in the state.
In a strident reiteration of the Shiv Sena’s stand, senior leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said that the next chief minister of Maharashtra will be from the party, adding that the “face and politics” of the state will change. Twelve days after assembly election results were announced, the party and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continue to squabble over rotating the chief minister’s position and 50:50 allocation of portfolios.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday in Mumbai, Raut said that a chief minister will be sworn in soon. “Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena only and not Sharad Pawar. The face and politics of Maharashtra is changing, you will see. What you call hungama (commotion), is not hungama, but the fight for justice and rights. Victory will be ours,” Raut said.
Raut also took on the BJP for not keeping its “word” on sharing posts and responsibilities equally.
Also Watch l ‘Shiv Sena fighting for justice, will emerge victorious’: Sanjay Raut
The BJP won 105 seats, followed by the Shiv Sena at 56, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 54 and the Congress 44. The majority mark is 145. Independents and smaller parties won 29 seats.
The strength of the Shiv Sena in the Assembly went up after Rajendra Patil Yadravkar, an Independent MLA from Shirol, pledged his support to Sena. The Sena claims the support of eight independent or rebel MLAs, taking their strength to 64. On Monday night, senior Sena leader, Eknath Shinde, took Yadravkar to meet Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray. Raut, on Tuesday, said, “The strength of Shiv Sena is increasing day by day. Yesterday Shirol MLA has joined the Shiv Sena.”
The allies have been at odds over power sharing with Sena sending out feelers to Sharad Pawar’s NCP and the Congress. The NCP chief called on the Congress president on Monday and briefed her about the ground situation in the state, with senior Congress leader, AK Antony, also present. The outcome of the meeting was unclear.
Monday witnessed hectic discussions in the BJP camp too with incumbent chief minister Devendra Fadnavis meeting Union home minister Amit Shah after which Fadnavis said, “There is a need to form the government in Maharashtra at the earliest... I am sure, I am confident, that the government will be formed.”
The deadline for government formation is November 9, when the term of the current legislative assembly expires. If no government is in place by the end of the tenure of the current assembly, President’s Rule could be imposed in the state.
