Maharashtra: 'BJP Single Largest Party,' Reminds Fadnavis Amid Sena's Demand For Equal Power Share

Fadnavis, who was addressing party workers at a Diwali gathering, said the "BJP-led alliance" will provide a stable government. The process of formation of government shall start after Diwali.

Nagpur: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis being welcomed by party workers at Nagpur airport, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: While the ally Shiv Sena demands a rotational Chief Minister formula in Maharashtra, CM Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday reminded Sena that BJP was the single largest party and said that the alliance will be “BJP-led”. Shiv Sena has been demanding an equal share in power and has stated categorically that the saffron party and its chief Amit Shah must give it in written that the Chief Minister post shall be shared on a 50-50 basis, and only then the government will be formed in the state. CM Devendra Fadnavis, who was addressing party workers at a Diwali gathering, said the "BJP-led alliance" will provide a stable government, the process of formation of which shall start after Diwali.” With the BJP's tally reduced to 105, much below the halfway mark of 144 in the Assembly, the Shiv Sena, which has won 56 seats in the October 21 elections, has demanded "written assurance" that the BJP will honour "fifty-fifty" power sharing deal. "The mandate is a clear majority for BJP, Shiv Sena, (and other allies) RPI, RSP, Shiv Sangram. The mandate will be respected. No one should have any doubt," Fadnavis said at the event. "The BJP is the single-largest party as per the mandate. We will elect legislature party leader after Diwali and swearing-in of the new government will take place soon afterwards," he said, adding that the "BJP-led alliance will provide a strong and stable government". The chief minister also said that the BJP's "strike rate" was better than in 2014. "We contested 260 seats in 2014 and won 47 per cent seats and 28 percent votes. In 2019, we contested 150 seats. We won 70 per cent of seats and 26 per cent votes," he said. This was the "highest strike rate by any political party", he said. Even in Mumbai, the BJP's strike rate was the highest, he stressed.