BJP and Shiv Sena meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari separately, extend Diwali greetings

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena on Monday met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari separately at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, amid speculations that the meet would be regarding the formation of the government in the state. 

The first to call on the Governor was Shiv Sena`s Transport Minister in the outgoing cabinet Diwakar Raote. After the meeting, he said, "I come to meet the Governor every year on the occasion of Diwali. It has been my tradition for the past over five decades." He added, "There was no discussion on our politics," he added and requested that "no political motives should be attributed to the courtesy call" on the Governor.

He was followed by CM Fadnavis. After coming out of the meeting he didn't speak to the media. The Governor said that it was a meeting to extend greetings of Diwali. CM Fadnavis discussed political topics and Diwali with Governor Koshyari, according to sources.

However, according to sources, the Governor was informed about the current political situation in Maharashtra, after the assembly results.

Earlier there were reports that the Shiv Sena is likely to inform the Governor about their stand and urge not to take the pre-poll alliance seriously while inviting the largest single party BJP in next govt formation as the Shiv Sena is looking for 50-50 sharing formula.

According to sources, Shiv Sena claimed that it will again make a formal visit to the Governor this week regarding government formation and will handover its letter to the Governor.

The party will keep its cards to chest till October 30 night as on that day BJP will elect its legislature party leader. Home Minister Amit Shah will hold a meeting with BJP’s Maharashtra’s senior functionaries and a possible meet with Uddhav Thackrey. Even though the visit will be termed as ‘courtesy visit’, Amit Shah is likely to be accompanied by CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrakant Patil. From Sena's side Udhhav will be accompanied by Anil Desai and Diwakar Rawte.

The Shiv Sena has demanded a written assurance from the BJP on the 50-50 sharing formula and said that Maharashtra should have a Shiv Sena CM for 2.5 years. Shiv Sena wants this assurance in writing from either Home Minister Amit Shah or CM Fadnavis, only after which the party will lend support to BJP in forming the government. 

"In our meeting, it was decided that like Amit Shah had promised 50:50 formula before Lok Sabha poll, similarly both allies should get chance to run the government for 2.5-2.5 years. So Shiv Sena should also have CM. Uddhav Thackeray should get this assurance in writing from BJP," Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik, an MLA from Ovala-Majiwada, said. 

Thackeray has bluntly told the BJP that the party should first agree on the 50-50 formula and only after that the Shiv Sena will decide to form a government with the BJP. It is possible for the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra only with the help of Shiv Sena as 56 of their MLAs won the Assembly election. In the 288-membered assembly, the BJP is far away from the figures of the majority to form a government on its own. A total of 105 MLAs of the BJP have won in the election.

The seat-sharing pact between the two parties has delayed government formation in Maharashtra.