Maharashtra: BJP to discuss forming government; Sena, Congress shift MLAs

Governor Koshyari on Saturday invited BJP leader and acting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to form government, asking him to prove his majority by November 11.

The invite came as even a fortnight after the Maharashtra elections declared a majority victory for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, the two parties couldn't settle their differences and form government.

The previous Maharashtra Assembly's tenure ended on Saturday.

Notably, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut welcomed the Governor's invite saying, "At least the Governor has begun the process of exploring for government formation. The BJP is the single-largest party and the rightful claimant to form government first."

In fact, Raut also shared a Hindi couplet which translates to: people who come from "old money" remain graceful; your tone tells me you come from "new money."

Although the BJP is the single-largest party in the new Assembly, with 105 seats, it still doesn't have a majority in the 288-member Assembly without its alliance with the Shiv Sena, which won 56 seats.

Foreseeing poaching of MLAs by the BJP, the Sena has shifted its MLAs to Madh Island resort, where party MLA Aaditya Thackeray also stayed overnight.

Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which won 54 seats, has decided to vote against the BJP on the floor of the House.

Party leader Nawab Malik said they would try to form an alternate government if the BJP government falls, and also keep a close eye on whether the Sena votes against the saffron party.

NCP leaders will hold a meeting on Tuesday.

To recall, after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance won a majority, the two parties debated over a 50:50 rotational CM policy, wherein BJP's Devendra Fadnavis and Sena's first-time MLA Aaditya Thackeray would share the CM seat for 2.5 years each.

The BJP refused to accept the policy while the Sena remained firm on its demands which led to a standoff between the two parties.