Fadnavis extends an olive branch to Shiv Sena after becoming Legislature Party leader

Mumbai: The BJP on Wednesday elected Devendra Fadnavis as the leader of its legislative party, paving the way for Fadnavis to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Immediately after a proposal was moved by BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar and seconded by other BJP legislators, Fadnavis extended an olive branch to disgruntled ally the Shiv Sena.

Thanking the legislators and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah for giving the opportunity to serve the state again and helping the BJP come back to power, Fadnavis did not forget to thank Shiv Sena. “This is a victory for the Maha yuti (alliance of BJP, Sena and other parties), we have fought as the grand alliance and this is mandate to govern is for the alliance,”Fadnavis said.


Referring to the seat squabbles within ally Shiv Sena, Fadnavis asked party leaders not to be ‘worried’. “Only a Maha yuti government would happen, talks are going on (with the Shiv Sena) so don’t need to worry or have any doubts. It will happen soon, don’t believe in rumours, don’t believe in discussions. We will have a stable government.”he said.

The Chief Minister said that his government has earned a bigger and unprecedented mandate compared to previous governments and said that the challenge is to ensure that the peoples’s aspirations are fulfilled. Fadnavis said that the government’s priority would be to ensure that all the drought hit areas in the state are supplied with water.

While Fadnavis has extended an olive branch the Shiv Sena is going all out to still claim the Chief Minister’s post. Posters put outside Matoshree (the residence in Thackeray’s) in Bandra congratulated Aaditya on his victory and wished that he should be the new Chief Minister of the state.

The Sena has called out a meeting of its legislators on Thursday and the party’s stand may be known then. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut who is one of the Sena leaders asking the party to toe a aggressive line with the BJP downplayed the BJP meet on Thursday. “What has to happen, will happen, it would be Maharashtra’s fate. I don’t know about the BJP meeting today, everyone has to call for a party meeting and elect its legislative party leader.”said Raut while speaking to reporters.

The BJP is willing to give more than double the ministries to the Sena than what it had given during 2014 and has even offered the Chief Minister’s post.