The Maharashtra government formation tussle between BJP and Shiv Sena doesn’t seem to end. The Shiv Sena which is adamant to get 2.5 years for Chief Minister's post, but the BJP is not budging to the demands. But now, Shiv Sena has now appealed to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat to step in and intervene in the matter.
According to NDTV, in a letter, Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari, known to be close to Union minister Nitin Gadkari, has asked Mohan Bhagwat to step in, alleging that the BJP is not following "coalition dharma". Tiwari said the state has delivered a mandate in favour of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. But the BJP's failure to follow 'coalition dharma' is delaying the formation of new government in Maharashtra. Therefore, the RSS "should intervene and resolve the issue," the letter read.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut asserted that the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra will be from Shiv Sena only. Addressing a press conference, Raut said, "The Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena only. The face and politics of Maharashtra are changing, you will see. What you call 'hungama' (commotion), is not 'hungama'. It is a fight for justice and rights and the victory will be ours." Raut played coy upon being asked about rumours of Shiv Sena forming a government with the support of Nationalist Congress Party and Congress. The NCP won 54 and Congress won 44 assembly seats.
"The decision of Maharashtra will be taken here only. Uddhav Ji will do it. Have Sharad Pawar or Sonia Gandhi come out with a statement? In politics, rumours fly everywhere and there are also people who peddle rumours. That is all I have to say on this matter," Raut said.
The impasse between the allies has been on since the counting of votes took place on October 24. The Shiv Sena had refused to back down from its demand, even though the BJP has made it clear that it would not share the top post. In an editorial in Saamana, the Sena had declared though it had accepted the BJP's conditions in 2014, this time, it would not "blink first".
