Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the BJP would formally commence talks on Friday with the Shiv Sena on its inclusion in his government.
Thursday’s announcement came ahead of the Assembly session scheduled to commence in Nagpur on December 8. The BJP is now running a minority government as it is 22 short of simple majority in a House of 288 members. The Sena has 63 members.
However, at the moment it faces no threat as the Nationalist Congress Party which has 41 MLAs has extended unconditional support.
Though the BJP and the Sena contested the Assembly elections separately following disagreement over seat-sharing, the bond between the two parties is not completely broken. The Sena representative is a member of the Narendra Modi Cabinet at the Centre.
Post-elections, leaders of both parties have expressed a desire to run the State government together.
However, there was no agreement on the terms of Sena’s participation as the BJP had made it clear that it would not accept any conditions.
