On a day Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh in Mumbai amid the ongoing tussle between the pre-election partners over government formation in the state, BJP national president Amit Shah is learnt to have given green signal to the party to begin backroom negotiations with Sena, although BJP is unlikely to give in to many of the latter’s “lofty”demands. In a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in New Delhi, Shah is learnt to have indicated that BJP will deal with Sena in equal terms to form government but should not agree to give up the post of chief minister, or even the Home portfolio, sources said. Also Read | Sena not the hurdle in govt formation: Sanjay Raut after meeting Governor Fadnavis, who returned to Mumbai by Monday evening, may meet Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. “He may even go to Matoshree (the Thackeray family residence) to seal the deal once discussions are done,” a party source familiar with the developments said. A BJP leader said: “There is no ambiguity in the leadership that there will be a BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra. So far we have not felt concerned about the situation. Every political party bargains; we don’t read too much into the (Sena’s) rhetoric.” This leader added that BJP would also explore all possibilities to bring in as many MLAs as possible to make itself stronger in the Assembly. After his meeting with Shah, which lasted about 40 minutes, Fadnavis met BJP general secretary Bhupendra Yadav, the party’s election in-charge for Maharashtra. Although BJP could initiate backroom negotiations soon, any formal meeting will come only after reaching an understanding over the final power-sharing formula, sources said. BJP’s national leadership is of the view that the party does not need to “bend backwards”, as there are not many options before the Shiv Sena. Sources said the Congress leadership’s apparent unwillingness to back the Sena —either by being part of a Sena-NCP-Congress government or supporting it from outside — has also emboldened the BJP. While the BJP is unlikely to agree for giving away even the Home portfolio, a party leader said the post of deputy CM for the Sena could be discussed only after two sides come to the table for talks. BJP leaders claimed that the Sena has stalled all possible opportunities for discussions.
