Sena pushes; BJP pushes back on trust vote in Maha

Toughened stance against Sena for ‘attempt to humiliate’ Modi by boycotting swearing-in

MUMBAI: Despite Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray threatening to sit in opposition, the Bharatiya Janata party claimed to be in a position of proving its majority on the floor of the assembly on November 12.

The BJP did not soften its stand, more so because of the Sena’s attempt to humiliate Prime Minister Narendra Modi by boycotting the union cabinet expansion in which Sena MP Anil Desai was invited to take oath.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the Sena’s decision as ‘sad and unfortunate’. The BJP did not concede anything on Thackeray’s demand for clarifying a tacit understanding with the Nationalist Congress Party but continued to rely on the NCP’s unconditional support from outside. Fadnavis said there was no point in discussing the number of cabinet berths and ministries (in the centre and state both). “We should discuss issues,” the CM said.

T hackeray said Sunday he would take a final call on the day of the trust vote. In response to the Sena’s demand on the NCP, the BJP said, “It will be entirely the NCP’s decision to support us. We have not met any NCP leader after the poll results were out.

And, if we may ask, can the Sena tell us who met the NCP leaders to form new political equations ahead of the trust vote? Everyone knows who these leaders were…,” state BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari told HT.

BJP insiders said the Sena was tangled in its own game because it did not receive a favourable response from the NCP.

“It wanted NCP’s help to get its candidate elected as Speaker, and also defeat the government, if possible. Pawar said Saturday he was not interested in destabilising the government,” said a senior BJP leader requesting anonymity.

“It is because of this development that the Sena has kept options open, but it is behaving as if it has put us (the BJP) under pressure,” he said.