New Delhi: There is still no clarity over the contours of the new government in Maharashtra though formal talks are set to begin between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena. The Shiv Sena has confirmed that it will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dinner for NDA allies on Sunday.
So far, it is not clear if Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will attend that dinner. Shiv Sena leaders had met the BJP central leadership in the national capital earlier this week. Sources said the Sena had offered support to the BJP for government formation in Maharashtra. Sena leaders Anil and Subhash Desai returned to Mumbai on Tuesday night after meeting the BJP central leadership.
The move had come after Home Minister Rajnath Singh had indicated that the central observers will travel to Mumbai only after Diwali. Singh and JP Nadda are BJP observers for Maharashtra.
So far, the BJP has been non-committal about engaging with its former ally Shiv Sena once again. The BJP is claiming support of 138 MLAs including Independents and smaller parties and is confident of passing the floor test. The BJP won 123 out of 288 seats in Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, the BJP is also trying to play down the tussle for the Chief Minister's post within the party. BJP leaders say the legislative body will take a final decision. BJP MLAs from Vidarbha region and senior party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar have been pitching for Nitin Gadkari for state's chief ministership. However, Gadkari had earlier clarified his stand not to return to state politics and said it was for the party's central leadership to decide and he will accept any responsibility given to him.
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