Dr Swamy makes SOS to BJP to save Sena, says Cong looking to harm it

Suggesting the BJP to offer an olive branch to Shiv Sena, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy, on Tuesday, questioning if the BJP had a Damage Limitation Strategy to offer to the Shiv Sena. Terming the Sena a 'grassroots organisation' he claimed that Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi was salivating for their blood. Dr. Swamy had previously lamented the split in the Hindutva movement, as the Mahayuti split.

Dr. Swamy suggests BJP extending olive branch to Sena

READ | Dr Swamy on Mahayuti fallout : 'BJP is paying price for obstinacy'

'Someone got foolish', slams BJP's obstinacy

Earlier on Monday, he had slammed the Sena for mulling an alliance with Congress and NCP, terming them anti-nationals. He also stated that the Sena is allying with those who coined 'Hindu terror'. Stating BJP's rigid demand for a CM post, he reminded that Maharashtra should not be lost. Adding that someone got foolish, he added that BJP was praying a heavy price for obstinacy. 

READ | Shiv Sena may approach SC if President's rule kicks in Maharashtra

NCP awaits Congress decision

While NCP and Shiv Sena have held a meeting with all their MLAs separately, Ajit Pawar has blamed Congress from Monday's delay in support to Sena. NCP is currently awaiting the arrival of senior Congress leaders in Mumbai to discuss further action. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena is likely to approach the Supreme Court if President's rule is implemented in Maharashtra. BJP too is holding a core committee meeting in Mumbai currently. This development comes after the governor on Monday, invited NCP to show a willingness to form the government by 8:30 PM on Tuesday after Shiv Sena had failed to cobble up a coalition with the NCP-Congress' support and was denied an extension from the Governor.

READ | Congress : 'Mandate is for Opposition, but High command will decide'

Recent political shifts

As Maharashtra entered its 18th day of having no government on Monday, hectic parleys were held between Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena Supremo Uddhav Thackeray. Senior Congress leaders were flown from Jaipur to Delhi to take a final call on Congress-NCP extending support to Shiv Sena. While Uddhav Thackeray met Pawar and called up Sonia Gandhi multiple times, Congress did not reach a decision by 7:30 PM which was the deadline for Shiv Sena to stake claim. Meanwhile, BJP held a core committee meeting at Fadnavis' residence to prevent defections and to decide the future course. Sena's sole Union Minister Arvind Sawant too resigned from the Modi cabinet in protest. Blaming the Sena for fracturing the Mahayuti alliance, BJP announced that it would not form the next government in the state on Sunday, after meeting the governor.

READ | NCP blames Congress for delay; says no NCP-Sena govt sans Cong support

Current Maha Assembly numbers

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56), but is yet to put its majority to use. Meanwhile, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-54, Congress-44) bagged 98 seats in total. The halfway mark is 145.