BJP rules out truck with NCP in Maharashtra

 

“If talks with Shiv Sena fail, we are likely to stake claim on our own and we’ll see how events unfold”, a senior BJP leader said. On eve of talks between Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray and BJP president Amit Shah, BJP gave indications that it “will not succumb to any arm-twisting” by its former ally. 

 

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, reiterated that the Sena was a “natural ally”, and said on Wednesday that “we will need an ally to form the government”.

 

On chief ministership in Maharashtra, BJP central leadership has more or less zeroed in on MLA Devendra Fadnavis, but if for some reason Mr Fadnavis fails to make it as a consensus candidate, Nitin Gadkari is likely to move in and take charge of the state, sources said. 

 

Read: Shiv Sena leaders in Delhi for discussions with BJP on Maharashtra government formation: reports

 

Playing the role of big brother, BJP is learnt to have said it would take the final decision on distrubuting portfolios to the Sena if the allies decided to reunite to form a coalition government. The post of  deputy chief minister for the Sena remains on the bargaining table, BJP has ruled out giving the home portfolio to its former ally.

 

Sources said that in the event of the BJP forming a minority government, there is a strong possibility of  NCP staging a walkout during the floor test. But with NCP offering unconditional support from outside and possibility of it helping a minority BJP government by staging a walkout, the Shiv Sena seems to have stepped on the gas to strike a deal with the BJP quickly.