With Sena in Opposition, BJP will have to take NCP support to prove majority in ... - Firstpost

Mumbai: To prevent further embarrassment and to maintain its self-respect, Shiv Sena on Monday finally laid its formal claim on the post of the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state assembly. In all likelihood, Sena's move came because of the cold shoulder it was receiving all the while from the BJP. The party also came under pressure as the Congress had formally put forward a similar claim earlier in the day today.

In a letter to the secretary of the Maharashtra legislature, Shiv Sena proposed the name of its legislature party leader Eknath Shinde for the LoP post late on Monday evening.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. PTI

"We had to stake our claim on the LoP as per the rules and regulation of the legislative assembly. We are the second largest party in the assembly. Then, why should we lose the post of LoP if we don’t go with BJP in power in Maharashtra? On Wednesday, after the election of assembly speaker, the LoP will have to be elected. So, we have staked the claim so that it will be included in the business of the assembly on that day," said Diwakar Raote, senior Sena leader, speaking to Firstpost.

Political observers said that Sena seems to have now realised that the BJP is not going to give in to its pressure tactics and it may cost the Sena the post of LoP in the assembly if it continues to wait. If Sena loses the LoP post on Wednesday then it will reflect badly on the party and also on its image.

With Sena staking claim on the LoP, it has now become clear that the BJP government in Maharashtra will have to take NCP’s support to prove its majority on the floor of the House on Wednesday. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will seek a trust vote after election of assembly Speaker on 12 November.

Sena leaders said that it became crystal clear from NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s presser on Monday afternoon that NCP is going to support the BJP during the trust vote. "On the other hand, BJP is maintaining silence on it despite (Shiv Sena chief) Uddhav (Thackeray) asking the party to make it clear if it is taking NCP’s support. Also, the arrogance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis can be seen from his statements that we will only talk on the Hindutva issue and not on the cabinet berths and portfolios with Sena. It is rubbish. We are a political party and what Uddhav was referring to was the political ideology of the party," said a Sena MP, requesting anonymity.

He added that considering all these things, the party is prepared for the worst in coming days. On Sunday, Uddhav had announced that his party will sit in the opposition only if BJP accepts NCP’s support to survive the floor test.

However, Sena still maintained that talks with the BJP were on and the party was still waiting for BJP’s response for a place in the Maharashtra government. "Talks with BJP are going on. 'Julale Tar Julale' (If it clicks, it will click with BJP). But, tolerance doesn't mean helplessness. It is up to BJP to decide if they want to take support from NCP chief Sharad Pawar who had also talked about 'saffron terrorism',” Uddhav said at a meeting of party corporators and legislators on Monday.

By playing the waiting game, Sena has still given BJP another day to decide if it wishes to give its partner for 25 years a significant place in the state government. Sena sources said that the party was still keen on taking the talks forward with the BJP and actually join the government on a 2:1 power sharing model.