Shiv Sena minister resigns from Union Cabinet: 5 developments in Maharashtra politics

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in the state of Maharashtra ended as the Sena’s lone MP in the Union Cabinet, Arvind Sawant, announced that he has resigned as the Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. Sawant’s resignation comes after the BJP on Sunday evening announced that it will not be staking claim to form the government in Maharashtra, as it does not have the required numbers. 

Here are five latest developments from the state:

• Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Monday morning announced in a series of tweets that he has resigned from his Cabinet post. 

Accusing the Maharashtra BJP of lying and reiterating that the Sena always stood for truth, Sawant said in a series of tweets that prior to the Lok Sabha election, a formula was decided on power-sharing between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Sena.

Arvind Sawant

"It was acceptable to both sides, but by rejecting it, an attempt is made to portray the Sena as a liar. This is shocking and a blot on the state's self-respect ('swabhiman')," Sawant said.

• The Maharashtra BJP unit on Sunday had informed Governor BS Koshiyari that it could not form the government though its pre-polls alliance had secured a full majority. Addressing the media on Sunday, BJP state president Chandrakant Patil wished Shiv Sena the best and said that their former ally is free to form the government in the state. 

"The Shiv Sena has insulted the public mandate... If it is in a position to form the government along with the support of the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party, our best wishes are with them," said Patil, flanked by his former minister colleagues like Ashish Shelar, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Vinod Tawde, Pankaja Munde and Girish Mahajan.

• After this, Governor BS Koshiyari invited the Shiv Sena, who is the second largest party in the state, to indicate willingness and ability to form the next state government. Koshyari called upon the Sena leader Eknath Shinde to convey his stand in the matter to him.

There is speculation that the Shiv Sena is likely to secure the outside support of the third largest party - Nationalist Congress Party (55 MLAs), and the fourth-largest Congress (44) — in its bid to form the government.

• Congress in-charge in Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with Shiv Sena MLAs in Maharashtra to explore the option of an alliance in the state to form the government. However, while sources say most MLAs are not averse to the alliance, the Congress had maintained that the alliance was possible only if the Shiv Sena cuts ties with the BJP at the Centre.

With Arvind Sawant resigning as a Cabinet minister, the chances are that Congress may consider the alliance. 

• Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut is now likely to meet top Congress leaders in New Delhi on Monday to seek support for his party-led government in the state. However it was not clear if he will meet the party's interim President Sonia Gandhi as yet. Top Congress sources say that Raut has not sought any meeting with her, but she can meet the Sena leader.