New Delhi:
In a clear and cut message to the BJP, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that his party will decide the fate of government formation in Maharashtra. Raut said that anyone with the strength of 145 legislators can become the chief minister. "Maharashtra ki kundali to hum hi banayenge. Kundali mein kaunsa greh kahan rakhna hai aur kaunse taare zameen pe utaarne hain, kis taare ko chamak dena hai, itni taakat aaj bhi Shiv Sena ke paas hai (Only we will decide the fate of Maharashtra. Even today, Shiv Sena holds the power to make or mar the political fate of politicians in the state)," Raut said.
He also appeared to issue a veiled threat that if the Governor call the single largest party, which is the BJP, to form the government, the Shiv Sena will have the power to collapse that minority government.
"Anybody who has the majority of 145, be it any politician or MLA, can become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Governor will invite whoever has the figure of 145 or the largest party, but even they have to prove majority on the floor of the house," he added.
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The statement of Sanjay Raut has come a day after Devendra Fadnavis announced that he will be the chief minister of the Maharashtra for the next five years. The Shiv Sena, which fought the Maharashtra Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP, has been demanding equal share in the power.
Despite efforts from the BJP top brass, the Sena is adamant on having 50 per cent share in power. The Sena wants the 50:50 formula, where both parties will share the post of the Chief Minister for 2.5 years each. However, the BJP is not ready to give up the power to a smaller ally.
Earlier, commenting on the delay in government formation despite the pre-poll alliance, Raut took a sharp swipe at the BJP and said, “There is no Dushyant here whose father is in jail. Here it's us who do politics of 'dharma and satya', Sharad ji who created an environment against BJP and Congress who will never go with BJP.” In recently held Maharashtra Assembly Elections, the BJP contested in 164 seats of the 288-member Assembly and won 105 while Shiv Sena contested 124 seats and won 56. Rest of the seats went to the NCP-Congress alliance and others.
