Sena Accuses BJP of Horse Trading Attempt, Says Will Skip NDA Meet

In the latest ‘Saamana’ editorial, Shiv Sena accuses former ally BJP of attempting horse trading in Maharashtra.

In the latest Saamana editorial, the Sena has accused the BJP of indulging in attempts at horse-trading while President’s rule is in effect in Maharashtra.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Shiv Sena, which is holding talks with the Congress and NCP for government formation in Maharashtra, said on Saturday, 16 November, that it would not attend a meeting of NDA constituents on the eve of the winter session of Parliament.

“We have got to know that the seating arrangement of two Shiv Sena MPs has been changed in the parliament,” Raut added ahead of the Parliament session beginning from Monday.

Sena leader Sanjay Raut also said that formal severance of ties with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance was now only a formality.

“I have learnt that the meeting (of NDA constituents) is being held on 17 November. We had already decided against attending the meeting considering the developments in Maharashtra... our minister resigning from the Central government,” he said.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party fell out with the BJP over sharing of chief minister’s post after the two allies won a comfortable majority in the last month’s Assembly polls.

The Sena’s lone minister in the Narendra Modi government, Arvind Sawant, resigned on 11 November.

Raut also took a dig at the party leadership and said, “There is a lot of difference between the old NDA and today’s NDA. Who is the convener of NDA today? Advani ji who was one of its founders has either left or is inactive."

‘Horse-Trading Under the Cover of President's Rule’

The Sena also accused the BJP of having intentions to indulge in “horse-trading” in the state, which is under President’s rule since 12 November.

In a stinging editorial in party mouthpiece Saamna, Sena writes, “The BJP is blaming others for hiding their weakness, and this act itself is dangerous for their mental condition.”

Sharpening the attack on the BJP over a statement by state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil, the editorial read, “First, the party with 105 seats was unable to form a government. They met the Governor and clearly said that they do not have a majority, and, therefore, cannot form a government. But how is it then that suddenly, after the imposition of President’s rule, they are claiming that they will be able to form the government? How are they proclaiming that now it is only them who will be able to do so? The same majority that they did not have before, will suddenly appear during President’s rule? The plan to indulge in horse trading under the guise of President’s rule has now become clear.”

Sharad Pawar, Sonia Gandhi Meet on Cards

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are likely to meet in Delhi on Monday and discuss the CMP and other modalities of forming a coalition with the Sena.

In the Maharashtra Assembly elections in October, the BJP won 105 seats, with Shiv Sena bagging 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44 seats.

Shiv Sena called off its three-decade-old ties with the BJP after their alliance fell through due to the Sena’s insistence on equal power sharing in the next government, and the demand for a system of rotational CMs, with a Sena CM for two and a half years of the five-year tenure.