April 26, 2024 23:25 (IST)
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We will form government in Maharashtra: BJP
Mumbai/New Delhi, Oct 19 (IBNS): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday emerged as the single largest party as counting proceeded in the Maharashtra Assembly elections but is falling short over some 20 seats to pass the half-way mark of 144 seats.
The BJP is likely to form an alliance with its estranged partner Shiv Sena, said reports.
"The BJP will form the government in Maharashtra and the CM post will belong to the party," said the BJP.
According to the latest trends, BJP is leading in 119 seats.
As Maharashtra is headed towards a hung assembly, the BJP might need an ally to form government in the western state where it fought the elections after a break up with former partner Shiv Sena.
While Shiv Sena, which has already toned down its criticism of BJP, could be a natural ally, the latter has not spelt out their roadmap.
BJP leaders in Maharashtra earlier in the day met as it might not be able to reach the halfway mark of 144. Shiv Sena is ahead in 59 seats.
Congress is ahead in 44 seats while its former ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is ahead in 42 seats.
However, if the BJP and Sena make up, a BJP led government in Maharashtra is possible.
If BJP gets the chance to form government in Maharashtra, its state chief Devendra Fadnavis could be the Chief Minister. Fadnavis himself won from Nagpur South and is seen as a front runner for the post.
Despite a bitter pre-poll war of words, Fadnavis said "the Shiv Sena is not our opponent, they will always be friends."
BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the show in Maharashtra is significant since it was a five cornered contest.
BJP leader and Union Minister Prakash Javedkar has not ruled out a possible alliance with the Shiv Sena.
Although Javedkar did not answer to this question directly, he never denied on any possibility of alliance formation with their estranged partner Shiv Sena.
The Union Minister said that he is certain the Bharatiya Janata Party will be forming the government in Maharashtra.
"We are forming the government. Once the result comes out, we will be able to take a final call. But the message is clear, people are voting for good government and progress," Javedkar told mediapersons.
"People have reposed their faith in the Narendra Modi government," he said.
In Maharashtra all previous alliance partners- BJP and Shiv Sena of NDA and Congress and NCP of UPA- fought elections individually after failing to forge pre-poll tie-up.
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