Mumbai, Oct. 29: The Shiv Sena continued to be in a dilemma today on partnering the BJP, deferring a decision till tomorrow in Maharashtra, even as the BJP went ahead with preparations for a gala swearing-in on Friday.
Sena boss Uddhav Thackeray held meetings at Matoshri, his residence in Bandra, to seek the opinion of colleagues. A section of the leaders insisted the Sena should not compromise on its self-respect and join the government unless the BJP offered the deputy chief minister’s or the Speaker’s post, besides some “plum” portfolios.
But another group pointed that having been out of power for 15 years, the Sena could become vulnerable to splits if it shunned an opportunity to be in government now.
“Uddhavji consulted all senior leaders. Discussions are on with the BJP too and we will announce our decision tomorrow,” Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said.
The BJP suggested it would go ahead and form the government and that it was up to the Sena to decide. “We haven’t received any proposal from the Shiv Sena. We have staked claim to form the government. It is up to the Shiv Sena to take a decision,” BJP national general secretary Om Mathur said, asked about the Sena meetings.
The BJP has 122 MLAs and needs 23 more to reach the half-way mark of 145 in the 288-member House. The Sena has 63 legislators.
The BJP has hired Bollywood art director Nitin Desai to build a giant stage at Wankhede Stadium where party leader Devendra Fadnavis will take oath as chief minister on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the event. Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Lata Mangeshkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan are among those invited, BJP leaders said.
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