The Bharatiya Janata Party has refused to succumb to the ultimatum set by the Shiv Sena, and declared on Wednesday that it would not expand its ministry in Maharashtra ahead of the trust vote next week.
The Shiv Sena had made inclusion in the cabinet a pre-condition for joining the BJP-led government. The party will now meet on Sunday to decide whether to sit in the Opposition.
“The talks with the Shiv Sena are proceeding well but the expansion of the Cabinet will take place only after the confidence vote,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the media.
The Shiv Sena wanted at least three of its members inducted as ministers before the trust vote — one Cabinet minister and two Ministers of State. It has been pushing for a total of ten Cabinet posts including that of Deputy Chief Minister.
Many within the Shiv Sena now feel it should sit in the Opposition. Sources say the party’s MLAs have asked the Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray not to bend further.
“Uddhavji attended the swearing in and sent his trusted aides to Delhi to sort out differences with the BJP. What else do they expect us to do?” a senior Sena leader told The Hindu .
Party mouthpiece Saamna even criticised Mr. Fadnavis for supporting statehood for Vidarbha.
However, a section of the party is still hoping that a deal can be struck by the weekend. “Let us see what happens by Saturday ,” said a senior Sena leader.
“We are hoping that an agreement can be reached gracefully. Our party needs to be assured that it will be treated with respect,” said Sena MP Anil Desai who is handling negotiations with the BJP.
The BJP is 22 MLAs short of a majority in the Assembly. The Shiv Sena which has 63 MLAs is the second largest party. However, the BJP has kept the Shiv Sena waiting when it comes to an alliance, saying it should come on board without any conditions.
