Six Shiv Sena ministers attended a meeting called by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
The BJP on Wednesday talked about "good news" and said it would meet the Maharashtra Governor today, setting off talk of an agreement with ally Shiv Sena just two days before the deadline for government formation. "Good news can come anytime," a senior BJP leader said after the feuding allies met for the first time on Wednesday.
Six Shiv Sena ministers attended a meeting called by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the farm crisis in the state after rain. Sources say a formula for government formation was discussed in the meeting, the first since the results of the Maharashtra election on October 24.
"You cannot separate water, no matter how much you try to. Shiv Sena and BJP are together... We should wait for the news, the good news can come anytime," BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said after the meeting.
"The government will be formed by the Mahayuti (alliance), no matter what anyone says or thinks," Mr Mungantiwar stressed.
BJP ministers later met the Chief Minister's home to discuss how to divide portfolios with the Sena, which has demanded an equal share in power including a turn at the Chief Minister's post by rotation.
Despite the BJP-Sena alliance winning a clear majority together, the Sena's demand for a "50:50" shot at the chief minister's post and the BJP's refusal to accept it has blocked government formation in one of India's largest states.
The NCP chief said a BJP-Shiv Sena government was the only viable option in Maharashtra
"We will do what (Sena chief) Uddhav Thackeray says," Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, asked about the BJP's plan to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He reiterated the demand for the chief minister's post.
"We met the Governor, Republican Party of India's Ramdas Athawale also met him. And if BJP leaders are meeting the Governor tomorrow to stake claim then they should form government as they are the single largest party, we have been saying it," Mr Raut said.
Sources say while the Sena officially maintains that its "50:50" demand is unchanged, the party is looking to emerge from this row with big portfolios in the bag.
"The BJP-Sena are allies for over 25 years. They should take immediate steps to give the state a new government instead of pushing the state into a constitutional crisis," Sharad Pawar, the chief of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), had said earlier, after meeting Sanjay Raut.
Mr Pawar, who met with the Sena MP for the second time since the poll results, also ruled out any pact with the party.
The NCP chief said a BJP-Shiv Sena government was the only viable option in Maharashtra.
He admitted that Mr Raut had shown a list claiming the support of 170 MLAs, far more than the majority-mark of 145 needed in the 288-member assembly.
"Even I want to ask Sanjay Raut how he will get 170," Mr Pawar said, making it clear that the Sena's calculation did not include his party and the Congress.
Mr Pawar's comments were seen to clamp a lid on talk of a political reconfiguration in Maharashtra, with the Sena dumping the BJP and getting together with rivals NCP and Congress. Congress president Sonia Gandhi reportedly told Mr Pawar when he met her on Monday that her party would not support the Sena.
In the middle of the churning, a top Sonia Gandhi aide and Rajya Sabha member Ahmed Patel met with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, a senior BJP leader. "We didn't discuss even 'M' of Maharashtra," said the Congress leader.
The BJP won 105 seats but says it is now 115. The Shiv Sena won 56 but claims the support of 64 with independents. The NCP, Congress and others have 102 seats.
If the BJP and Sena are unable to end the standoff, Maharashtra could be in for President's Rule after the term of its assembly ends on Saturday.