New Delhi:
Amid the political stalemate in Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP seem to have finalised the modalities for forming the government. Uddhav Thakeray is likely to be the new chief minister of state, according to sources. The NCP will get the Home Ministry and the Congress will take charge of Revenue. The Shiv Sena and the NCP each will get 15 ministries in the new Cabinet while the Congress will hold charge of 12 ministries, sources said.
Earlier in the day, Thackeray met the legislators to apprise them of the government formation process and meetings of Congress-NCP leaders in Delhi, Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav said.
“Uddhavji met and told us that the process of formation of Sena-led government is in the final stages,” he said.
“The legislators have fully endorsed the party’s efforts to stitch up an alliance with Congress and NCP to form the next government in the state,” Jadhav said.
He said the MLAs want Thackeray to become the chief minister.
“We want Uddhavji to be the chief minister. But his word would be final and would be binding on all of us,” he said.
According to Jadhav, Thackeray rejected speculation that the BJP was in touch with him and had offered the chief minister’s post to the Shiv Sena.
“Till today, I haven’t got any call from the top BJP leadership. This is nothing but a ploy to malign the image of shiv sena,” he quoted the Sena president as saying.
Thackeray instructed the MLAs to stay together in Mumbai as they may be required any time, he said.
Sena MLA Prakash Surve told reporters that the government will be formed in two to three days and the next chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena.
“Uddhavji is concerned about the plight of farmers,” he said.
Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu said all the party MLAs have been asked to stay together, while another legislator, Uday Samant, said no one can poach the Sena lawmakers.
