Shiv Sena MLAs demand CM post for Aaditya Thackeray

New Delhi:Newly-elected Shiv Sena MLAs on Saturday rooted for Worli legislator Aaditya Thackeray as the Maharashtra chief minister. They reiterated party chief Uddhav Thackeray's demand for a '50-50′ formula with the BJP in the new government.

The demand from the Sena MLAs came after Uddhav chaired the party's first meeting ever since the results of the Maharashtra Assembly election were declared on Thursday. The MLAs said the next course of action would be decided after the BJP gives in writing the power-sharing deal.

"Uddhav ji has said that his discussion with Union minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was about equal power sharing and sharing the CM's post for two-and-a-half years. For us, equal power sharing and the CM post's is important. Further decision will be taken after the BJP gives in writing about the power sharing formula," Pratap Sarnaik, Sena MLA from Thane, said.

"The equal seat-sharing formula could not be implemented due to some unavoidable reasons. Now, we have given all the powers to party chief Uddhav ji. His decision will be acceptable to us," Sarnaik added.

The BJP and Sena will formalise the power-sharing formula after Diwali, and the swearing-in ceremony is likely on October 31.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, on the other hand, today said that there is nothing wrong with the Sena's demand of equal power in the Cabinet. "In the 1990s also, there was a 50-50 formula for the Shiv Sena and the BJP. So they have past experience (in running the government). So the Sena can insist, nothing wrong in that," Pawar told NDTV.

(Inputs from The Indian Express)