Fadnavis requests Shiv Sena to withdraw candidate for Assembly Speaker's post

Mumbai, Nov 11: The negotiations between Shiv Sena and BJP over power-sharing in Maharashtra is on a standstill. Now, the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to Sena and the Congress to withdraw their candidates for the post of Assembly Speaker, said an

.

Reportedly, Fadnavis made the appeal during a meeting with Sena leader and MLC Ramdas Kadam. On Wednesday, Fadnavis faces a trust vote to remain as Chief Minister.

The Sena has staked claim to the post of leader of opposition. On Monday, they announced their decision to contest to the post of Speaker. On Tuesday evening, the party legislators met Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the party's office in south Mumbai.

Also, the party's legislators, in the state assembly today, demanded that the deadline for filing nominations for the Speaker's post be extended.

The NDTV report says that the major differences between BJP and Shiv Sena is over the portfolios that the Sena would get in return for its support to the BJP.

In the recently concluded elections, BJP emerged as the single largest party, 22 seats short of the majority needed to form government. As of now, BJP has agreed to give a total of 12 ministerial portfolios to the Shiv Sena; six with cabinet rank, and six ministers of state.

While, the Sena has agreed to this, it has also demanded for at least one high-ranking cabinet portfolio - either Deputy Chief Ministership, Home or Revenue.

The tension began when BJP rejected this demand and offered to give high-profile portfolios like Energy, Food and Civil Supplies, Irrigation and Health.

It is not clear whether Shiv Sena would back BJP in Monday's trust vote, but Uddhav Thackeray had made it clear that they will not back the BJP if it accepts the NCP's support.

Oneindia News