Mumbai: The Shiv Sena and the BJP have failed to reach an agreement on their relationship in Maharashtra - which means that when the Prime Minister's cabinet is enlarged, a leader from the Sena is unlikely to be among the new ministers.
The BJP had asked the Sena to nominate one leader for the Cabinet. Currently, the Sena had one minister in the Union government - Anant Geete. He was called to Mumbai on Saturday evening from Delhi by the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, indicating the tension between the two parties has hit the danger mark.
Mr Geete was expected to meet the PM about what the Sena wants if it joins the government in Maharashtra, where the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis must take a trust vote on Wednesday.
Mr Fadnavis heads a minority government - the BJP's first ever on its own, in Maharashtra. Even if the Sena does not support the BJP, Sharad Pawar's party has said it will abstain during the vote, which will allow Mr Fadnavis to remain Chief Minister.
The Sena and the BJP ended a 25-year alliance ahead of the election. To reunite, the Sena expects to join the Maharashtra government but wants the post of Home Minister and important portfolios like Finance, terms that the BJP feels are not justified for a junior partner.
Mr Thackeray has reportedly said that if most of his conditions are not accepted, he would prefer for his party to serve as the opposition rather than accepting what the BJP deems as his party's entitlement.
However, the reason that negotiations have continued is because the BJP would not like to be dependent in the long-term on Mr Pawar, not known for his dependability or loyalty as a partner.
The Sena will hold a meeting in Mumbai on Sunday to decide what happens next.
A sign of the vast differences with the BJP lies in the fact that while the PM's party has said it would like to induct Suresh Prabhu of the Sena in the cabinet, Mr Thackeray would prefer to see Anil Desai, a trusted aide, move to the Centre.
The BJP had asked the Sena to nominate one leader for the Cabinet. Currently, the Sena had one minister in the Union government - Anant Geete. He was called to Mumbai on Saturday evening from Delhi by the Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, indicating the tension between the two parties has hit the danger mark.
Mr Geete was expected to meet the PM about what the Sena wants if it joins the government in Maharashtra, where the BJP's Devendra Fadnavis must take a trust vote on Wednesday.
The Sena and the BJP ended a 25-year alliance ahead of the election. To reunite, the Sena expects to join the Maharashtra government but wants the post of Home Minister and important portfolios like Finance, terms that the BJP feels are not justified for a junior partner.
Advertisement
However, the reason that negotiations have continued is because the BJP would not like to be dependent in the long-term on Mr Pawar, not known for his dependability or loyalty as a partner.
Advertisement
A sign of the vast differences with the BJP lies in the fact that while the PM's party has said it would like to induct Suresh Prabhu of the Sena in the cabinet, Mr Thackeray would prefer to see Anil Desai, a trusted aide, move to the Centre.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Natural Disasters Increasing Concerns": PM Modi On Independence Day In Pics: 10 Years Of PM Modi's Symbolic Headgears On Independence Day World Lion Day 2024: PM Modi Shares Stunning Pictures, Lauds Conservationists Indian Airports, Borders On Alert As Global Mpox Cases Rise: 10 Points "My Intention Was To...": Sudha Murty Clarifies Raksha Bandhan Post "No Ifs And Buts": Chirag Paswan Wants Quota In UPSC Lateral Entry Biden To Pass Torch To Kamala Harris At Democratic Convention: 10 Points US Approves $3.5 Billion Sale Of Military Helicopters To South Korea Watch: Rahul Gandhi Takes An Uber To Share Plight Of Gig Workers Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.