BJP Will Not Stake Claim To Form Maharashtra Government Today: Sudhir Mungantiwar
Devendra Fadnavis is not just a BJP leader, he should be seen as Shiv Sena’s chief minister as well, says the senior party leader.
The Bharatiya Janata Party will not stake claim to form the Maharashtra government today, senior party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said in Mumbai.
Mungantiwar, a minister in the previous state government, told reporters that the BJP was not in favour of forming a minority government in the state, ahead of the party delegation's meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
He also dubbed as "unfair" the talks that Shiv Sena MLAs may cross sides, amid the stalemate over Maharashtra government formation.
"We will not stake claim to form the government today. We want to have a detailed discussion with the governor on various legal intricacies related to running the current government," Mungantiwar said.
The BJP was of the opinion that people's mandate should be respected, he said. "The BJP is against forming a minority government in Maharashtra.”
On Shiv Sena's insistence on sharing the chief minister's post, Mungantiwar said, "Fadnavis is not just a BJP leader, but he should be seen as Sena's chief minister as well. There should be no doubt about his leadership and acceptance across the party lines."
"Even the Shiv Sena has said in various ways that it wants to stay with the BJP and form the government. There are some hurdles, but they will be addressed," he added.
Mungantiwar asserted that the deadlock over Maharashtra government formation was not from the BJP's side. He also dismissed talks that the Shiv Sena MLAs may switch sides.
"The Shiv Sena is well aware of its MLAs and their loyalty. It is unfair on part of the MLAs to talk about split in the party. It is an insult of an elected representative to talk about splitting. It is unfair," he said.
Mungantiwar also dismissed rumours that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari may be appointed as the state's chief minister. "Nitinji will never come to Maharashtra. It is not even his distant dream to come to Maharashtra as chief minister," he said.
The BJP and Shiv Sena are locked in a tussle over the chief minister's post, delaying government formation in the state. The alliance won 161 seats in the Maharashtra elections, way past the 145 majority mark in the 288-member state assembly.
In the polls, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena-56, NCP-54 and the Congress-44.