For majority in Maha house, BJP hints at splitting with Sena
12 Nov 2014 6:47 AM IST
The BJP, which has 121 MLAs in the 288-member House, is 23 votes short of a majority. The BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the Maharashtra assembly with 122 seats, but one of its MLAs Govind Rathod died, reducing the figure to 121.
As of now, as per the pre-poll alliance, the numbers with the support of Mahadeo Jankar’s Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), adds up to only 122 in support of the BJP. Speaking to the Millennium Post from Mumbai, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson, Madhav Bhandari said, ‘Tomorrow you will see how we are going to prove our majority.’
When asked how the party will prove its majority without the Shiv Sena and whether it will turn to the NCP against which BJP leaders have fought for so many years, he said, ‘We have placed things on the right track. All I can reveal to you at this time is that we do have strong BJP believers in other parties, including some of them in Shiv Sena.’ He said, ‘Our party does not want its name to be associated with the NCP – directly or indirectly – in winning the trust vote. Also, we have not asked them to support us. As far as Shiv Sena is concerned, their senior leaders have stopped talking to us. But despite that we are confident to prove our majority tomorrow.’
Sources said for the last two days BJP state leaders led by newly-elected chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been having a series of negotiations with other parties except the NCP to prove its strength without Shiv Sena. It was learnt that Fadnavis is having talks with seven independent MLAs and also had ‘closed door’ meetings with a section of the Shiv Sena leaders in an attempt to rope them in to form the government.
Bhandari’s hint towards roping 22 people in the ‘Saffron brigade’ from other parties clearly indicates that BJP is trying to poach some of the leaders from other parties including Sena. This has become a possibility given the move of Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu over to the BJP to become a minister against the wishes of Sena leadership.
Meanwhile, in the midst of continuing stalemate, Fadnavis has appealed to the Shiv Sena and the Congress to withdraw their candidature for the post of Assembly Speaker. Fadnavis reportedly made the appeal during a meeting with Sena leader and Member of Legislative Council Ramdas Kadam. The Sena, which staked claim to the post of leader of opposition on Monday, had earlier decided to challenge the BJP for the post of Speaker.
This is for the first time that Maharashtra is going to see a 3-way contest after BJP nominated Haribhau Badge as their candidate for the post of speaker, while Congress and Shiv Sena named Varsha Gaikwad and Vijay Avti respectably for the post of speaker.
As of now, as per the pre-poll alliance, the numbers with the support of Mahadeo Jankar’s Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP), adds up to only 122 in support of the BJP. Speaking to the Millennium Post from Mumbai, Maharashtra BJP spokesperson, Madhav Bhandari said, ‘Tomorrow you will see how we are going to prove our majority.’
When asked how the party will prove its majority without the Shiv Sena and whether it will turn to the NCP against which BJP leaders have fought for so many years, he said, ‘We have placed things on the right track. All I can reveal to you at this time is that we do have strong BJP believers in other parties, including some of them in Shiv Sena.’ He said, ‘Our party does not want its name to be associated with the NCP – directly or indirectly – in winning the trust vote. Also, we have not asked them to support us. As far as Shiv Sena is concerned, their senior leaders have stopped talking to us. But despite that we are confident to prove our majority tomorrow.’
Sources said for the last two days BJP state leaders led by newly-elected chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been having a series of negotiations with other parties except the NCP to prove its strength without Shiv Sena. It was learnt that Fadnavis is having talks with seven independent MLAs and also had ‘closed door’ meetings with a section of the Shiv Sena leaders in an attempt to rope them in to form the government.
Bhandari’s hint towards roping 22 people in the ‘Saffron brigade’ from other parties clearly indicates that BJP is trying to poach some of the leaders from other parties including Sena. This has become a possibility given the move of Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu over to the BJP to become a minister against the wishes of Sena leadership.
Meanwhile, in the midst of continuing stalemate, Fadnavis has appealed to the Shiv Sena and the Congress to withdraw their candidature for the post of Assembly Speaker. Fadnavis reportedly made the appeal during a meeting with Sena leader and Member of Legislative Council Ramdas Kadam. The Sena, which staked claim to the post of leader of opposition on Monday, had earlier decided to challenge the BJP for the post of Speaker.
This is for the first time that Maharashtra is going to see a 3-way contest after BJP nominated Haribhau Badge as their candidate for the post of speaker, while Congress and Shiv Sena named Varsha Gaikwad and Vijay Avti respectably for the post of speaker.
Next Story
