Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on Saturday responded to ally Shiv Sena’s reported claim to the post of Chief Minister by stating “everyone has the right to express (their views)”.
The BJP’s tally in the Assembly polls, results of which were declared on October 24, came down to 105 from 122 in 2014, prompting the Sena, with 56 seats and greater bargaining power, to play hardball in power sharing talks.
Among the Sena’s demands is a written assurance from the BJP on “equal sharing of power”, which could possibly include equal division of the chief ministerial tenure.
Mr. Patil, who won from Kothrud in Pune, however, added the final decision on government formation would be taken by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Patil said, “Fadnavis was the most successful CM of Maharashtra.”
Mr. Patil, meanwhile, also claimed the BJP, despite losing seats in 2019, had done better than 2014 as its strike rate had improved.
