Mumbai: Despite continuing talks with the Shiv Sena, the BJP is exploring all options for the formation of government in Maharashtra. The party is likely to woo MLAs from either the Congress or the NCP to reach the magic number of 145 seats to form a full majority government. Forming a minority government is also on the agenda of the party in case the modalities with the possible coalition partners do not work out.
According to sources, the BJP does not want to leave any stone unturned to form the government. The party leadership is least interested in forming the government with the help of the Shiv Sena due to their demands and conditions. This has led the party to take on board smaller parties excluding a few and all seven Independent MLAs.
State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, who is also one of the frontrunners for the CM post, confirmed that the same. “Apart from the MNS, AIMIM, Samajwadi Party and the BBM, we have contacted all other political parties and all are ready to join the cause,” Mr Fadnavis told this newspaper.
Along with the one seat of its coalition partner, the Rashtriya Samaj Party, the BJP won 123 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and needs at least 22 seats more to prove its majority on the floor of the House. Sources in the party said that they would prefer considering taking MLAs from the Congress or the NCP instead of facing the “fussy” attitude of the Shiv Sena.
