RSS makes fresh bid to bring Shiv Sena-BJP together

Talks might revive after Modi's return from 3-nation tour

At a time when a section of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra has hit the streets expressing displeasure over the party’s proximity with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has swung into action to bring together estranged partners BJP and Shiv Sena.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray have reportedly held a telephonic conversation in this regard. According to sources, the process to revive alliance between the BJP and Sena would gather momentum after the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his three-nation tour of Myanmar, Australia and Fiji on Thursday.

The NCP with 41 members has offered outside support to the BJP government in Maharashtra. In the absence of Shiv Sena, the BJP needs the NCP’s support for the survival of its minority government in the state.

Similar efforts were made by RSS immediately after the Assembly poll results were announced. The RSS apparently made it clear it “did not approve” of the BJP taking the NCP’s support as most of its leaders faced corruption charges. However, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has clarified his government has not rejected NCP's support. RSS and Shiv Sena declined to comment on the issue.

Bhagwat's initiative comes close on the heels of the trust motion won by the Fadnavis-led government by voice vote in the state Assembly amidst din and slogan shouting on November 12. On the same day, the newly-elected Assembly speaker Haribhau Bagde upheld the Shiv Sena's claim for the post of leader of opposition.

Subsequently, Sena group leader Eknath Shinde assumed the leader of opposition's seat in the Assembly after the talks between BJP and Sena failed to reach an agreement on the ministerial berths in the state Cabinet.

According to sources, the Sena has not yet lost the hope and expects to patch up with the BJP in the near future.

Notably, BJP president Amit Shah has said the BJP alone cannot decide on a reunion with the Sena. He said both the parties need to engage in talks to make it a reality.

The BJP has won 122 seats (now reduced to 121 after the party's newly-elected legislator Govind Rathod from Nanded district died). The party is supported by one member of its ally Rashtriya Samaj Party. This apart, seven independents and three legislators of Bahujan Vikas Aghadi have extended their support. Besides, eight legislators from smaller parties had also said they would support the BJP government.

On the day of the controversial trust vote, Fadnavis had claimed he had mobilised a support of 140 legislators — still short of four members to achieve simple majority in the state Assembly.