39 Sena MLAs keen to end alliance: Devendra Fadnavis

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: BJP offered no formal comment on the issues which came up for discussion at former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah in the capital on Tuesday.
Sources, however, confirmed that the future course of action, preparations for a formal floor test which increasingly looks likely, and details of the power-sharing arrangement with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction were part of the long meeting.
Shah, sources said, referred Fadnavis to BJP chief J P Nadda for the mandatory formal go-ahead.
Even as BJP appeared to be busy exploring the prospect of forming a coalition with the Shinde-led group, Shiv Sena said it would move the SC if the governor asked for a floor test.
After his meeting with the governor, Fadnavis addressed the media for the first time after the political crisis broke out in the state last Tuesday. Fadnavis said BJP has given its letter to the governor via email as well as a physical letter detailing the current situation in the state.
Fadnavis was in a meeting with the governor for nearly 40 minutes. He was accompanied by state BJP president Chandrakant Patil, opposition leader in the legislative council Pravin Darekar, former minister Girish Mahajan, MLA Ashish Shelar and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Dhananjay Mahadik, among others.
In his letter to the governor, Fadnavis has alleged that Sena leader Sanjay Raut is threatening the legislators now camping in Guwahati, saying their dead bodies will be brought to Mumbai. Many other Sena leaders are also threatening the rebel MLAs with dire consequences.
Fadnavis said while BJP and Shiv Sena contested the 2019 assembly elections together, after the elections, Sena joined hands with Congress and NCP and formed the government. For the last 8-9 days, discontent is brewing in Shiv Sena since most of the legislators are not keen to continue with Congress and NCP in the MVA government. Thirty-nine Sena legislators are keen to end the alliance. Fadnavis has said that in a parliamentary democracy, majority is of paramount importance and as the MVA government has lost its majority, it should be asked to prove it on the floor of the House.
A senior BJP functionary said the ball is now in the court of the governor.