MUMBAI: A day after caretaker CM Eknath Shinde said the power sharing formula in Mahayuti, barring CM post, would be ironed out during talks with BJP‘s Devendra Fadnavis and NCP’s Ajit Pawar, a meeting of the three via video conferencing was expected to be held Monday but it didn’t take place.
Shinde was expected to attend the meeting via a video call as he is unwell and has been advised not to travel, but a senior Sena functionary said the party is waiting for a call from BJP to be invited to the meeting since it has gone ahead and announced that the new govt will be sworn in on Dec 5.
Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat said it is possible that the three would have a meeting late on Monday or on Tuesday. “The power sharing formula will be decided at the meeting,” he said. Reiterating Shinde’s stand, he said, “Who will be the CM will be decided by the BJP brass. Whoever it picks will have Sena’s complete support.”
BJP is firm that the CM be from its party. “Since heads of alliance partners are seasoned politicians, BJP will select an experienced MLA for the CM’s post,” said a source, hinting at Fadnavis as the favourite.
BJP sources said discussions on portfolio distribution will now be held after the swearing-in ceremony. Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar said the party had not been informed about the ceremony.
“We were not told about the swearing-in ceremony. Had [BJP] told us, we could have also gone to the venue. Due to this, there is a misunderstanding. We are all in Mahayuti. The swearing-in ceremony is organised by govt. Preparations are made by govt. The party that is coming to power goes and checks if the arrangements are right. So, BJP has overseen the arrangements,” he said.
If the BJP brass picks a CM from its own party, Sena should get the deputy CM’s post and home portfolio and should be allowed to retain all its nine existing ministries, including the key industries and urban development portfolios, said another Sena functionary. Shinde is yet to meet his MLAs after returning from his meeting with Amit Shah in Delhi.
