MUMBAI:The prospects of Shiv Sena joining the first-ever BJP government in Maharashtra brightened today with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying that the talks on power sharing being almost complete and Sena also hinting at the "positive conclusion" of deliberations.
A senior Sena leader said the final outcome can be expected either by tonight, when Sena emissaries are meeting Fadnavis at his official residence 'Varsha' here, or tomorrow.
"The talks have almost reached a positive conclusion barring one ministry, which the BJP is not ready to give us," the leader said on condition of anonymity without specifying the ministry in question.
"A final outcome will be reached at very soon," the leader said.
The hint that the deal is almost sealed between ruling BJP and Sena came from the chief minister earlier in the day.
"Talks with Shiv Sena are going on. Even yesterday we had very positive talks. We are moving in the right direction. I am very sure we will be able to successfully conclude these talks. We can say that 70-80 per cent talks have been completed where both the parties agree..Somethings are left on which we are still discussing," Fadnavis said.
His statement was echoed by senior BJP minister Vinod Tawde who said the final outcome will emerge in a day or two.
"The Chief Minister has made it clear that we wanted Sena with us in power. Talks on this issue have started. Whatever proposals have to be given to each other, that process has also started," he said in Ratnagiri.
"I feel that today or tomorrow, something will be finalised and soon you will see Sena becoming a part of the government," Tawde said.
According to the Sena leader the demands put forward by the party before BJP are "logical" and have no resemblance to media reports that Sena is asking certain ministries considered to be money spinners.
"We have only demanded ministries through which we can connect to the people," the leader said.
"When we were in power, we had given similar ministries to the BJP. Today when we are demanding the same ministries, what is wrong in that?" the Sena leader questioned.
The leader said it would be "fair" on part of BJP if it gives one third of the ministerial berths to Sena.
"We have given a list to BJP in which power, irrigation, environment, excise, tourism development, industries, water resources, law and judiciary, conventional and non-conventional energy, horticulture, health and family welfare and transport ministries have been included," the leader added.