Advantage Sena

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Highlights

  • Uddhav Thackeray dials Sharad Pawar; Sena CM in State: Raut
  • Prez Rule in Maha if no govt by November 7, says BJP leader

Mumbai: The BJP-Shiv Sena standoff over power-sharing in Maharashtra, which has stalled government formation for over a week, took a dramatic turn on Friday with reports emerging of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray talking to Sharad Pawar, the opposition stalwart who can facilitate a reconfiguration of alliances.

Reports suggest Uddhav Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader have spoken on the phone. Sharad Pawar, say sources, will fly to Delhi to meet with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Maharashtra may head for President's Rule if the new government in the state is not in place by November 7, Finance Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said on Friday.

"A new government will have to be in place within the stipulated time, or else the President will have to intervene. President's Rule will be imposed if the government formation doesn't happen in the given time," Mungantiwar said.

He said the main hurdle in government formation was the Sena's demand for chief minister's post for two-and-a-half years. Asked if the BJP would accept the demand, Mungantiwar said, "We have already named Devendra Fadnavis."

Maharashtra will have chief minister from the Shiv Sena, senior party leader Sanjay Raut said on Friday amid standoff with ally BJP over sharing the top post. Talking to reporters here, he said there has been no talks yet between the BJP and the Sena on government formation.

If the Sena decides, it can get the required numbers to form a stable government in Maharashtra, he said. People have given mandate to form government on the basis of "50:50 formula" that was reached in front of the people of Maharashtra, Raut said.

Bharatiya Janata Party attacked its Maharashtra ally with Delhi BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga took a jibe at Sena.

Bagga shared a political cartoon featuring a tiger, Shiv Sena's identity, and incumbent CM Devendra Fadnavis.

In the cartoon, a happy Devendra Fadnavis tells the agitated tiger, "Aakhir tunhe aana hai, zara der lagegi (It may take a while but you have to enter this ring)." Congress targeted the BJP for "cheating" the Shiv Sena.

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