We are in no hurry to join the government: Uddhav

As talks between the Shiv Sena and BJP move ahead slowly, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he is in no hurry to be part of the government.

As talks between the Shiv Sena and BJP move ahead slowly, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he is in no hurry to be part of the government.

“I will not want to spell out any power-sharing arithmetic for now. There is still time. You will know when the decision is taken. It might take two-three days more,” Thackeray said, after visiting Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur. He added he had given his best wishes to the government at the swearing-in ceremony. “I hope this government is responsible,” he said.

For now, the BJP, which has 121 seats, needs 22 more seats to prove a majority in the house. The Sena, which has 63 seats, wants a one-third share in the ministerial berths. BJP sources have indicated the Sena is also asking for the position of deputy chief minister, a post they have announced will be scrapped and not continued further.

“The BJP told us it will have a small cabinet of ministers. So if it is a 30-member ministerial team, we expect 10 berths. Also, at least a few of these should be important berths and not ones that are on the fringes,” a senior Sena legislator told HT.

The Sena has asked the BJP to give them the post of deputy chief minister, along with one-third berths in the government.