Taking a cue from Uddhav Thackeray's renewed assertion for equal sharing of power with the BJP, which failed to register a desired performance in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, newly-elected MLAs of the Shiv Sena on Saturday demanded that Aaditya Thackeray be made the chief minister in the next government.
The results of recently-concluded polls saw the ruling BJP losing 17 seats from its previous tally of 122, a development that political observers believe has increased the bargaining power of the Shiv Sena, whose tally too came down to 56 seats from the 63 it won in 2014.
"We want to see Aaditya Thackeray as the next chief minister. But Uddhavji will take the final decision," said Pratap Sarnaik, MLA from neighbouring Thane city.
He was responding to a question on whether the Shiv Sena will seek the help of the Congress-NCP combine to install its own chief minister in place of incumbent Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP.
Sarnaik and other elected MLAs on Saturday assembled at 'Matoshree', the suburban residence of the Thackerays, to attend a party meeting.
Another MLA Abdul Sattar, who defected to the Shiv Sena from the Congress ahead of polls, also endorsed Sarnaik's view.
"Uddhavji will take the final call on this," said Sattar, once considered a close aide of former Congress chief minister Ashok Chavan.
In the elections, results for which were announced on October 24, the BJP won 105 seats and the Shiv Sena 56 while the NCP and the Congress bagged 54 and 44 seats, respectively.
The verdict came as a shocker for the BJP, which had set itself a higher target to secure the absolute majority on its own. The changed scenario has emboldened the Shiv Sena, which knows well that it is in a position to call the shots and demand Aaditya as the chief ministerial face.
Aaditya, 29, became the first Thackeray since the party was founded in 1960s to enter the poll fray and win. He won from Worli seat in Mumbai, a Shiv Sena pocket borough.
On the day of the verdict, Uddhav hardened the Shiv Sena's stand by reminding the BJP of the 50:50 formula "agreed upon" between BJP president Amit Shah, himself and Fadnavis ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
On Saturday, Sarnaik referred to the 50:50 formula and declared Uddhav should “get an assurance in writing” from the BJP that both allies will run the government for 2.5 years each.
:In our meeting it was decided that like Amit Shah ji had promised 50-50 formula before LS polls,similarly both allies should get chance to run Govt for 2.5-2.5 years so Shiv Sena should also have CM.Uddhav ji should get this assurance in writing from BJP.
According to sources, the formula entails rotational chief ministership between the Shiv Sena and the BJP and the equal sharing of cabinet berths.
"I contested less number of seats for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. I cannot accommodate the BJP every time. I want to remind the BJP the formula that was worked out in the presence of Amit Shah," Uddhav had said.
The speculation about an "interesting possibility" started doing rounds on the day of the poll verdict when former chief ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithivraj Chavan of the Congress said the party should consider all options to keep the BJP out of power.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar had ruled out such a possibility to back the Shiv Sena. Uddhav had said the popular mandate to rule was given to the BJP and his party.
State Congress president Balasaheb Thorat too ruled out any truck with the Shiv Sena to keep the BJP at bay. However, he cryptically said that if the Shiv Sena comes with a proposal, the Congress will seek advice of its high-command.
The Shiv Sena has been rooting for Aaditya as the next chief minister or deputy chief minister of the state.
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However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also holds the BJP chief's post, have repeatedly said that Fadnavis will continue to be at the helm.
On Friday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut posted a cartoon to take a dig at the BJP.
The cartoon, posted by Raut on his verified Twitter account, shows a tiger (Shiv Sena emblem) wearing a clock locket (NCP's poll symbol) sniffing a lotus (BJP's poll symbol).
