The BJP-led government announced the formation of a committee to work on building a memorial to Sena founder Bal Thackeray, at a joint press conference at the state guesthouse Sahyadri
It has finally happened. The BJP and Shiv Sena made a formal announcement of their alliance yesterday, after a separation of two months. A total of 12 Sena men will be inducted into the state ministry.
ADVERTISEMENT
Preparations underway for the oath-taking ceremony of the expanded cabinet, scheduled for 4 pm today. Pic/Bipin Kokate
The BJP-led government also announced the formation of a committee to work on building a memorial to Sena founder Bal Thackeray. Speaking at a joint press conference at the state guesthouse Sahyadri, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena leaders made the announcement.
CM Devendra Fadnavis addresses a press conference with Shiv Sena leaders (left to right) Anil Desai, Subhash Desai, Diwakar Raote, Ramdas Kadam and Eknath Shinde on Thursday. Pic/PTI
“The popular verdict was in favour of BJP and Sena, against the Congress and NCP. We are respecting the public sentiments,” the CM said, in presence of Sena leaders Subhash Desai, Anil Desai, leader of opposition Eknath Shinde, Ramdas Kadam and Diwakar Raote. BJP ministers Chandrakant Patil and Pankaja Munde were also present. Shinde will have to tender his resignation as leader of opposition.
Of the 12 chosen Sena men, five will get a Cabinet rank, with the rest to be inducted as ministers of state. There will be no deputy CM, Fadnavis said. He also declared that all future elections to local and civic bodies would be fought under the alliance’s banner. “A coordination committee is being set up for allocation of seats,” he added.
Thackeray memorial and ministers
In a significant development, the state government order stated an empowered group, headed by Maharashtra chief secretary Swadhin Kshatriya, would work on erecting a memorial to late Sena chief Bal Thackeray.
The eight-member group comprises secretaries of general administration and urban development department, along with the Konkan divisional commissioner, BMC commissioner and the police commissioner of Mumbai. The order paves way for the smooth working of the alliance, feel bureaucrats, as it comes a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the expanded cabinet.
Shiv Sainiks had been waiting for this since Thackeray’s death and Fadnavis had even spoken about it after his visit to Shivaji Park on November 17, Thackeray’s death anniversary. Sources from the alliance claimed the BJP and Sena had to come together for the smooth running of the government and avoid intra-party bickering.
There was resentment within the Sena camp over the delay in joining the government and the decision to sit in Opposition. “The more the Sena became aggressive as an opposition party, the more the BJP government would have made things difficult in civic bodies under control of the Sena, such as BMC, Thane and Aurangabad,” said a Sena leader.
In BJP, Fadnavis was keen on aligning with Sena to ensure stability of his government. NCP’s flip-flops on supporting his government and voices of discontent from BJP were raising the level of discomfort, party sources said. The CM convinced his party bosses in Delhi on these issues and ensured Sena came on board, sources claimed.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
