Mumbai: After putting the Shiv Sena through a tough time over the last two months, the BJP is back to wooing its estranged ally. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the BJP was eager to have Shiv Sena on board in the government and that talks would begin on Friday. However, the Sena appears to be reluctant to join the government.
Observers say that the BJP seems to have offered the olive branch to Shiv Sena on Thursday following the spate of statements by NCP chief Sharad Pawar predicting snap polls in the state last week, and Sena's aggressive stand as an opposition party cornering the BJP-led government over the drought issue across the state.
After meeting Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao over the drought issue, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray indicated that he would 'wait and watch' for BJP's offer. "We will decide when BJP leaders want to discuss the power-sharing deal," he said. Sources said that union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra PWD minister Chandrakant Patil were likely to meet Uddhav at the latter's residence, Matoshree in suburban Mumbai on Friday.
However, after a series of humiliating events over the last two months, the Sena is now playing hard ball. Sena leaders said that Uddhav would take the final call on joining the state government. "BJP has been humiliating us for the past two months and we will have to think about it. We will also discuss the issue with party activists and get to know their views on joining the government. But, party president Uddhav Thackeray will take the final call in the matter," said Sena leader Ramdas Kadam.
"BJP always says through media that talks are on with us and continue to entertain people of the state," remarked Kadam, who has also demanded the resignation of revenue minister Eknath Khadse over the controversial statement on non-payment of power bills by farmers. Khadse had said if farmers could pay their mobile bills, why can't they also clear their power dues.
Sena sources said that even as the BJP is wooing the Sena, the latter is now in no mood to give in to the BJP's request. "We would go into the government only if we are given the post of the deputy chief minister and the home minister apart from a share in the government on a 2:1 formula,” said a senior Sena leader.
"Ever since the trust vote, the BJP has received a lot of flak. Let the BJP try and see through another session of the state legislature in next month. Then, it will realise the risk and dangerous consequences of being friends with the NCP. It seems that the BJP has understood that it needs our support for a stable government. But, we are now firmly placed in the opposition and are in no hurry," the leader added.
BJP is apparently in a fix as it lacks simple majority in the state assembly. While the BJP has 122 MLAs in the 288 member state assembly, Sena has 63 MLAs. At present, the BJP is short of 22 MLAs to prove its majority in the state assembly. "The winter session of the state assembly will be tough for us given Sena's new-found aggression on the drought issue. Also, the Congress and NCP have decided to rake up the drought and other issues in the assembly session. Since NCP can not be trusted, it would make matters worst for us," said a BJP leader.
BJP leaders also pointed out that the entire trust vote drama and the NCP's role in government had dented the party's image badly. "It has taken a toll on the CM's clean image and BJP's promise of good governance. Due to NCP's outside support, we have virtually lost the confidence of the people of state. Also, a section of party leaders and activists are not happy with NCP's outside support that has also put pressure on us. So, we are now keen on taking the Sena on board," said a senior BJP leader pointing out that a large section of Sena MLAs is also keen on joining the government.
The leader said that if BJP tries to woo MLAs from opposition parties, it would not go down well with the people of the state. "It may further take a toll on party's image. So, we are not keen on that idea. The survival of the BJP government is being questioned due to the NCP's support. It is one of the reasons we are keen on taking Sena in government," he added.
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