Maharashtra govt formation: Shiv Sena sends its two negotiators to Delhi for talks with BJP
Shiv Sena's Anil Desai, a Rajya Sabha member and Subhash Desai, another senior leader, arrived in Delhi on Tuesday night for discussions with the BJP leadership, sidelining its hardliner Sanjay Raut.
With suspense still shrouding over the chief minister's name for Maharashtra, now the government formation talks between the two old allies, BJP and Shiv Sena have shifted to Delhi.
Shiv Sena has dispatched its two senior leaders for negotiations with BJP over government formation in the state.
Shiv Sena's Anil Desai, a Rajya Sabha member and Subhash Desai, another senior leader, arrived in Delhi late in the night for discussions with the BJP leadership, sidelining its hardliner Sanjay Raut.
At the same time, BJP also appeared not to close the option of taking NCP's outside support in case a deal with Shiv Sena does not materialize.
Apparently with an eye on Shiv Sena, BJP deferred the visit of Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was chosen as a central observer for election of the leader of BJP Legislature Party in Mumbai. He will now go to Mumbai after Diwali as back channel talks on the possibility of getting Shiv Sena back on BJP's terms continued, party sources said.
In the midst of hectic consultations on government formation, senior BJP leader from Maharashtra Vilas Mungantiwar gave a new twist to the leadership race by favouring Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the post of chief minister.
That the party has not closed the doors for Shiv Sena was evident from the remarks made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Om Mathur, the party's election incharge for Maharashtra.