M A I N   N E W S

Sena will back any BJP nominee
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

M’rashtra Govt swearing-in on Friday The new Maharashtra government will be sworn in at Wankhede Stadium on Friday, BJP officials said on Monday. Governor Vidyasagar Rao will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and his team. ‘Committed to support’ The Shiv Sena was committed to backing any candidate who works for the welfare of Maharashtra regardless of who becomes the Chief Minister – Nitin Gadkari or Devendra Fadnavis Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamna’

Mumbai, October 27
The Shiv Sena today said it would unconditionally back any candidate of the BJP for the post of Chief Minister.

An editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna' said the Shiv Sena was committed to backing any candidate who works for the welfare of Maharashtra "regardless of who becomes the Chief Minister — Nitin Gadkari or Devendra Fadnavis". The editorial ended the uncertainty over the possibility of alliance between the two estranged parties to form the government. "Whoever is made CM of Maharshtra, Nitin Gadkari or Devendra Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena will support him," the editorial said.

Confirming that negotiations were on between the two parties, Shiv Sena spokesman and Saamna editor Sanjay Raut said the party was keen on joining the government. "We would like to give Maharashtra a stable government. If the Shiv Sena and the BJP join hands, the state will get a stable government," Raut said.

The Shiv Sena's desperation to join the government comes amidst attempts by Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party to join hands with the BJP. Pawar told a newspaper that the NCP would abstain from voting against the BJP during the vote of confidence after government formation if the party chooses to go it alone.

Pawar's remarks came amidst indications that the Shiv Sena was pressing for portfolios of its choice in order to join the government.

NCP spokesman Majid Memon claimed that the BJP was not keen on joining hands with the Shiv Sena. "The Shiv Sena is desperate to join hands with the BJP, but the BJP leadership is not in the mood to forget what Shiv Sena has done during the election campaign," Memon said. He said the NCP was offering support to the BJP in order to prevent political instability in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, BJP officials said the new Maharashtra government would be sworn in at Wankhede Stadium on Friday. "The swearing in ceremony has been scheduled for Friday," a BJP spokesman said. Governor Vidyasagar Rao will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and his team.

As of now the BJP is grappling with who will head the government though Devendra Fadnavis appears to be the front-runner. BJP leaders are said to be holding talks with representatives of the Shiv Sena though nothing concrete seems to have come out yet.

According to sources, the swearing-in ceremony will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several members of his Cabinet, senior BJP leaders and prominent industrialists in attendance. The BJP MLAs will choose their leader in the presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and general secretary JP Nadda on Tuesday.

Apart from Nitin Gadkari and state unit chief Devendra Fadnavis as key candidates, there are dark horses like Eknath Khadse in the race for chief minister.

The BJP has a strength of 121 in the 288-member Assembly after the death of its newly elected legislator from Nanded, Govind Rathod. BJP leaders claim to have the support of 11 independent legislators.