File photo: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
The Shiv Sena has asked to be included, in whatever manner, in the BJP's swearing-in ceremony of a new Maharashtra government slated for Friday, said sources.
The BJP has planned a mega-event at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, where it is expected to swear in, initially, a small number of ministers, while it continues discussions with the Shiv Sena over a possible coalition.
The BJP, even after taking the support of independents, is still about seven short of the halfway mark in the 288-member Maharashtra assembly.
But sources in the Shiv Sena told NDTV that if they are, eventually, to be part of the coalition, they do not want to be excluded from Friday's exercise.
The Shiv Sena has conveyed to the BJP that it is amenable to settling for roughly a third of the total number of ministries, proportional to its relative strength, say sources.
The Shiv Sena has 63 Members of Legislative Assembly to the BJP's 123 legislators.
Which means if the BJP is swearing in only, say, six ministers on Friday, the Shiv Sena believes roughly two of their MLAs could also be sworn in, say sources.
The BJP has indicated that this is highly unlikely given that both sides are still in talks, and that the swearing-in will be an all-BJP affair, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
But some in the Shiv Sena reportedly feel that not being included in Friday's swearing-in will constitute a snub, and it may not be worth joining the alliance later.
The only Shiv Sena presence at the swearing-in might be party chief Uddhav Thackeray, who has been invited by the BJP's Chief Ministerial nominee Devendra Fadnavis to attend the event. As of now, it is unclear if Mr Thackeray will attend.