Shiv Sena links Union berth to Maharashtra alignment

Geete, according to party sources, wanted to meet the PM with a fresh proposal from Uddhav to resolve the Maharashtra issue. Geete, who had been making frantic efforts to meet Modi since Friday, went to 7, Race Course Road, again Saturday evening but returned after waiting in vain.

With Desai’s fate linked to the Maharashtra matter, he may not take oath at the Cabinet revamp Sunday.

Uddhav has now said a final decision on joining the BJP government in Maharashtra will be taken by party legislators at a meeting in Mumbai to elect the leader of the Legislature Party on Sunday.

It is strange though that the Sena tried to reach out to Modi at this last minute given that the PM had chosen not to get involved in the nitty-gritty of the Maharashtra alliance.

According to sources, Uddhav wanted Geete to apprise Modi specifically of the basic Sena demands as he felt that Maharashtra BJP leaders were perhaps not as keen on a power-sharing arrangement as him.

Geete was supposed to seek a total of 12 ministerial berths in the state for the Sena, five of Cabinet rank and the rest of minister of state.

The Sena also wanted to press for a deputy chief ministership, or at the very least, for Home. The other portfolios on its wishlist were Energy, PWD, Rural Development and Health.

Sources said that while Uddhav initially wanted the Sena nominees for ministerial berths to be sworn in before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis secured a vote of confidence in the Maharashtra Assembly, he was prepared to settle for even an announcement of the agreed formula at a joint press conference before the vote.

Desai, who was in Mumbai till Saturday night, said: “We have hopes from the BJP. Fadnavis has himself said that he and senior BJP leaders are working on an arrangement. We are waiting for their proposal, after which Uddhav Thackeray will take the final call.”