Shiv Sena isn’t our enemy; we expect friends’ support: Fadnavis

With a steady stream of visitors, Devendra Fadnavis is a busy man. Despite emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly polls, the state BJP president admits that they should have won more seats. He, however, dodged questions on his being the next CM and a possible alliance with the Shiv Sena.

What is the development on forming a government?
Our central leadership will take the final call. The MLAs have started arriving in Mumbai for completing formalities such as filing personal information in the state BJP office. I can’t comment on issues that are under consideration and jurisdiction of the central leadership. A meeting of our legislative party will be held.

Who will be the next chief minister?
The next chief minister will be from our party. The name will be decided by the party’s high command.

Are you upset because you are short of majority?
We should have won more seats. We will analyse the results to know the reasons. We lost at least 22 seats by very small margins. That notwithstanding, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the state. I’m happy as the state president.
The NCP has extended outside support to the party. The central leadership will decide on this matter as well.

Will you take former ally Shiv Sena along?
I have already said the Sena is not our political enemy and I expect our friends to support us. I will not say much on
this.

Did caste politics play a role in these polls?
Not at all. You must analyse the results to know how the voters elected their candidates. Firstly, our leader, PM Narendra Modi, wiped out caste politics in the LS polls and then repeated the same feat in the Assembly elections.