It is still not clear whether the Sena wants to completely sever its ties with the BJP.
To break free, the Sena would be required not only to withdraw its representative in the Narendra Modi government Anant Geete but also end its alliance with the BJP without whose support it would lose majority in the cash-rich Mumbai municipal corporation and other municipalities it governs.
On Tuesday after writing to the Speaker that it wants its leader in the House to be recognised as Leader of the Opposition, the Sena insisted that its talks with the BJP would continue. The party clarified that it has staked claim for the post of the Leader of the Opposition only to ensure that the Congress does not bag it.
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Since the declaration of the election results on October 19, both the Sena and the BJP have repeatedly declared their intent to ally in government formation. However, the BJP has made it abundantly clear that it required the Sena to come on board without any conditions. The tug of war between the two parties is essentially over the number of ministerial berths at the Centre as well as the State. The Sena upped the ante against the BJP after the NCP declaration that it has offered unconditional support to the Fadnavis government. It insisted that unless the BJP spelt out its position on the NCP support, it would sit in the Opposition benches.
“We are not going to change our stand. If the BJP wants to take the support of an anti-Hindutva party like the NCP, then they are free to do so. We will contest for the Speaker’s post,” said Sena’s group leader Eknath Shinde had said on Tuesday.