BJP leader Vinod Tawde at the press conference.
The BJP's talks with Shiv Sena for the formation of government in Maharashtra is on track, says senior state party leader Vinod Tawde. And though the thorny issue of portfolio share is yet to be sorted out, he said the BJP will push ahead with the election of the leader of the legislature party - who becomes the chief minister.
"We will elect a new legislature party leader at a meeting on October 28, in which (Union minister) Rajnath Singh, (state party in-charge) JP Nadda, Om Mathur and Rajeev Rudy will be present," Mr Tawde told media personnel in Mumbai today.
The BJP had averted a row over the chief minister's post - both Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and state party chief Devendra Fadnavis appeared to be in the running - with a Diwali Milan between the two.
Later, Mr Gadkari underscored that he was not in the race and did not wish to return to state politics. But party sources had indicated that before naming the chief minister, the BJP wished to settle the alliance question.
Today, Mr Tawade said, "The BJP wants to bring Shiv Sena into the alliance and form the government. If we come together in our minds then we can discuss portfolios etc."
Talks, he said, were in progress in Delhi too.
The Sena, despite the split with the BJP in Maharashtra ahead of the state assembly polls, is still a part of the NDA government. Today, Sena's sole Union minister, Anant Geete, had led the party's team of 18 MPs at the high tea of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Though Sena is considered be the "natural choice" for the partnership in Maharashtra, its position has been weakened by the NCP's offer of external support to the BJP, should it form the government. The BJP, which is 22 seats short of a majority, is yet to respond to the offer.