As Maharashtra's crisis continues, independent MLA predicts Sena will split
What's the story
There are so many questions surrounding Maharashtra government formation right now- When will a claim be staked to form the government? Will bitter allies BJP and Shiv Sena finally relent? Will incumbent Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not get a second term? Amid these questions, an independent MLA has expressed confidence that Sena will split and 25 legislators are in touch with Fadnavis. Here's more.
What happened
BJP, Sena went from heaping praises to berating each other
For October 21 Assembly elections, BJP and Sena forged a pre-poll alliance. But when the "elder brother" put up poor performance, Sena demanded more power, particularly 2.5 years of Chief Minister-ship. What followed was blitzkrieg with Sena remaining adamant. The results were declared on October 24, and there's still no clarity about government formation. Meanwhile, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has set a deadline of November 7.
Statement
Fadnavis will return as CM, said MLA
Adding fuel to the blaze between allies, independent MLA Ravi Rana, who lent support to BJP said Sena would lose MLAs if it doesn't go with BJP. Calling Sena leader Sanjay Raut, who has been leading the attack against BJP, a parrot of the party, the legislator from Badnera constituency in Amravati district said Fadnavis will once again take oath as CM.
Quote
He credited alliance with BJP for Sena's "success" in polls
"The Sena won 56 seats only because of the alliance with the BJP, else it would not have won 25 seats in the state on its own. Twenty-five Sena MLAs are in touch with CM Fadnavis and with me," he claimed.
Prediction
If Rana is to be believed, Sena should tread carefully
Further, Rana said Sena should stop creating hindrance in the path of government formation. He projected that within two months of Fadnavis taking oath, 20-25 MLAs of Sena will switch over. Rana also advised party chief Uddhav Thackeray to rein in Raut. He said Thackeray should speak as he was part of the meeting with BJP chief Amit Shah and not Raut.
Editorial
Meanwhile, Sena called Fadnavis "outgoing CM"
Though Rana said Sena will be at a loss if it misses out forming the government with BJP, the former thinks it has the upper hand. Which is probably why its mouthpiece Saamana in its editorial called Fadnavis "outgoing CM". "The outgoing chief minister, who came back to Maharashtra from the polluted Delhi, will have to take the next step forward," Tuesday's editorial read.
Statement
Separately, Raut said CM will be from Sena itself
In fact, earlier in the day, Raut said the next CM in the state will be from his party. "The Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena only. 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," the Rajya Sabha MP told ANI.