BJP calls for legislative party meet on Oct 30 after Sena's ultimatum

Chandrakant Patil, Bharatiya Janata Party's President of Maharashtra on Saturday announced that "BJP has called a legislative party meeting on 30th October at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai to elect the leader in the house." He added that all 105 MLAs of the party will attend the meeting. The announcement comes after the Shiv Sena on Saturday issued an ultimatum to BJP stating that party chief Amit Shah and CM Devendra Fadnavis should issue a written statement assuring that the CM post will be shared equally for 2.5 years each.

Sena reminds BJP of 50:50 formula promise

Speaking to reporters outside Matoshree, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik said that Uddhav Thackeray is of the opinion that the 50:50 formula promised by BJP prior to the polls should be implemented. This was discussed in the party's legislative meeting on Saturday. Sena MLAs has been demanding for Aaditya Thackeray to be made the CM. "To keep the alliance intact, the formula of 50:50 in which the CM post will be shared for 2.5 years each along with the equal bifurcation of ministerial posts should be given in a written statement by the BJP to Uddhav Ji. Then this government will be formed. Till then the government will not be formed. BJP should fulfil its promise, such is the opinion of Uddhav Ji. We have voted unanimously on this and the final decision will be taken by Uddhav Ji," he said.

READ | No proposal to join Sena to keep BJP out of power: Balasaheb Thorat

Shiv Sena's growing power over BJP?

With BJP's diminished final tally of 105 compared to 122 in 2014 the Sena improved its strike rate securing 56 of 124 seats contested compared to 63 seats of the 282 seats. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also reminded CM Fadnavis of the 50:50 alliance agreed upon prior to the polls, after the victory. Apart from this, posters were also spotted in Worli on Friday, demanding Yuva Sena chief and newly elected MLA Aaditya Thackeray be made CM; which has been a long-standing Sena demand.

READ | Mumbai: Newly elected Sena MLAs to meet Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree

Maharashtra Assembly Elections results

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56) to award CM Devendra Fadnavis a second term. The comeback made by the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) took the Mahayuti by surprise as the NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats. Though the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

READ | Cartoon war between BJP & Shiv Sena over Maharashtra CM post

READ | Sena issues ultimatum to BJP: 'No govt till 50:50 formula for CM post'