Raut dares BJP to admit they cannot form the Govt, says Sena has other options ready

Mumbai:

Taking a jibe at state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Chandrakant Patil for not staking claim to form the next government, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut remarked that despite being the single largest party the BJP is unable to form the government. Speaking to newspersons here on Thursday, the Sena leader urged the BJP to let go its craving for power and admit it to the people that they cannot form the government. Claiming that the Sena has numbers on its side, Raut further argued that the Sena has its other options ready.

The Sena Rajya Sabha MP stated that the Sena has its number ready and will prove its numbers on the floor of the legislative assembly. Asserting that the state will be led by the next Chief Minister who will be from the Shiv Sena, Raut stated that talks can only commence if the proposal for sharing of the Chief Ministers post comes from the BJP. Our proposal is just one line proposal “do as you had promised”.

Sources in the Sena earlier in the day disclosed that party president Uddhav Thackeray has apparently dug his heels in over his demand for sharing the Chief Ministers post. Addressing partys newly elected legislators the Sena president reiterated his demand that the BJP honor its commitment made during the Lok Sabha elections. “We will not hold any discussions with the BJP provided they agree to what was decided during the Lok Sabha polls. They can call me up if they decide to give us Chief Ministers post for 2.5 years. Otherwise do not call me up”, Thackeray is reported to have told his party legislators.

Sources in New Delhi stated that barring the statement of senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari earlier in the day in which he ruled out the possibility of his coming back to Maharashtra politics, the top BJP leadership is tight-lipped about the whole scenario. A meeting of senior BJP leaders and representatives of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was held in Delhi. Sources added that unlike Haryana, the Sena demands are too big for consideration for the party which till now has ruled out any negotiations with the Sena over sharing the Chief Ministers post.

Raut added that since the BJP has not staked its claim to form the government, then it is obvious that they do not have the numbers with them. Raut added that the BJP is neither staking claim to form the government, neither allowing anyone else to form the government and trying to engineer a constitutional crisis. He accused the BJP of committing the sin of imposing Presidents Rule in the state. Raut further remarked that the BJPs use of “all means” to hold on to power will not work this time.

Commenting upon the Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s address to party legislators at Matoshree earlier in the day, Raut stated that the Sena president had since declaration of the results has been claiming that he will not do anything that will break the Sena-BJP alliance. He further stated that the Sena legislators had vowed complete trust in his leadership. Raut refuted the contention that the Sena had shifted its legislators to a safer place (Rangsharda, Bandra West) out of fear of poaching.

Raut argued that the BJP had managed to survive its minority government in 2014, but the situation now in 2019 is vastly different. Urging the BJP not to hold the people to ransom, he further argued that the mandate of the people was for sharing of power in equal terms. Referring to Chandrakant Patil’s remarks that the mandate was for the BJP-Sena led Mahayuti, he wanted to know as to why then the BJP not staking claim to form the government?

Commenting upon senior BJP Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar’s remarks that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also a Shivsainik, the Sena leader shot back arguing that a Shivsainik never goes back on his word come what may and never lies. He further remarked that by using such hyperboles one cannot do politics. Raut said that if they claim to be Shivsainiks then abide by the word you have given.

Earlier, speaking to newspersons at Raj Bhavan after meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, state BJP president Chandrakant Patil stated that the BJP delegation met the Governor as it was taking unusually long time to form the next government. He said that the delegation discussed the constitutional modalities arising out of the delay in government formation. Patil added that the BJP will decide on the future course of action.

The state BJP president asserted that the people had given a mandate for the BJP-Sena led Mahayuti comprising of BJP, Sena, RPI-A, RSP, Shivsangram and Rayat Kranti to form the next government. Patil clarified that the BJP had not staked claim to form the next government. Meanwhile, state Advocate General, Ashutosh Kumbhakoni reached Raj Bhavan to discuss the constitutional modalities with the Govenor just in case no political party is able to form a government by November 8. According to reports, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has reportedly cancelled his proposed Konkan region tour and is heading back to Mumbai.