Mumbai: Amid hectic political activity for government formation in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Friday met his party’s legislators here and told them that the process to form a Sena-led dispensation in the state was in the final stages.
Uddhav Thackeray met the legislators to apprise them of the government formation process and meetings of Congress-NCP leaders in Delhi, Sena MLA Bhaskar Jadhav told this agency.
“Uddhavji met and told us that the process of formation of Sena-led government is in the final stages,” Jadhav told reporters.
“The legislators have fully endorsed the party’s efforts to stitch up an alliance with Congress and NCP to form the next government Maharashtra,” added the MLA.
Jadhav also told reporters that the MLAs want Uddhav Thackeray to become the chief minister. “We want Uddhavji to be the chief minister. But his word would be final and would be binding on all of us,” stated Jadhav..
Thackeray rejected speculation that the BJP was in touch with him and had offered the chief minister’s post to the Shiv Sena informed Jadhav.
“Till today, I haven’t got any call from the top BJP leadership. This is nothing but a ploy to malign the image of Shiv Sena,” Jadhav quoted Thackeray as saying. Thackeray instructed the MLAs to stay together in Mumbai as they may be required any time, he said.
Sena MLA Prakash Surve told reporters that the government will be formed in two to three days and the next chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena. “Uddhavji is concerned about the plight of farmers,” stated Surve. “So he wants the formation of the government as soon as possible,” added Surve.
Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik after coming out of the meeting the state will soon have a government headed by a Shiv Sena chief minister. “We want Uddhavji to become the chief minister and we have put our demand across to him.” stated Sarnik.
A meeting of the leaders of Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress is scheduled to take place later Friday, following which the three parties are expected to stake claim to form the new government in Maharashtra.
Agencies
