After BJP-Shiv Sena tiff, Fadnavis pays tribute to Bal Thackeray
What's the story
Setting aside his differences with the Shiv Sena, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday attended party founder Bal Thackeray's memorial event. Reportedly, Fadnavis arrived at the event after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and his son and party MLA, Aaditya Thackeray, took leave. This comes as the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena alliance underwent a brutal divorce in Maharashtra. Here are more details.
Details
Fadnavis called Bal Thackeray a 'source of inspiration'
On Sunday, Fadnavis, along with BJP leaders Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawde, paid their tributes to Bal Thackeray on his seventh death anniversary. The former CM also tweeted in Marathi, "Salutations to our inspirational source Balasaheb Thackeray on his death anniversary." Interestingly, as Fadnavis left from the event, Shiv Sena workers chanted pro-party slogans: "Whose government? Shiv Sena's!"
Twitter Post
Here's a video of Fadnavis leaving from the event
#WATCH Maharashtra: Slogan of "Sarkar kunauchi? Shiv Sena chi" (Whose government? Shiv Sena's) raised by Shiv Sena workers, when BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was leaving after paying tributes to Balasaheb Thackeray on his death anniversary today, in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/AbsA5Gm1f5
— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2019
Other attendees
NCP and Congress leaders also attended Bal Thackeray's memorial
Reportedly, leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress, who have formed an unlikely alliance with the Shiv Sena, were also present at the event. After paying tributes, Sena spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut told reporters, "We will do anything for #Balasaheb," recalling Uddhav Thackeray's promise to his late father of having a Maharashtra Chief Minister appointed from the Shiv Sena party.
Twitter Post
You'll soon see Maharashtra CM from Shiv Sena: Raut
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena: We will do anything for #Balasaheb, govt will be formed. The promise which Uddhav ji made to Balasaheb, that there will be a Chief Minister from Shiv Sena...you will soon see that Maharashtra CM will be from Shiv Sena. https://t.co/Zi31eXBWfQ pic.twitter.com/1BnpZyTKxo
— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2019
Backstory
What happened between BJP and Shiv Sena?
To recall, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance soured after winning a majority in the Maharashtra polls last month, with BJP winning 105 seats and Sena 56. The Sena argued for a rotational CM set-up. However, the BJP said it never agreed to this arrangement. On November 12, President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra as no party could establish a majority in the state assembly.
New alliances
Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance to assemble majority
Since the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance fell apart, the Sena has been trying to form an alliance with NCP and Congress to assemble a majority. The NCP and the Congress won 54 and 44 seats respectively. The three parties have been holding talks and have reportedly reached consensus on a common minimum program (CMP)- a document detailing the minimum objectives of a coalition government.
Other developments
Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra for next 25 years: Raut
Meanwhile, earlier on Friday, Raut had said that the Sena would form a government in Maharashtra for the next 25 years, and not just the next five years. NCP chief Sharad Pawar was also confident the alliance will stick for five years. Pawar also said that the President's Rule in Maharashtra will not last and no fresh elections will be held in the state.