File Photo: Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam
Even as the ruling BJP in Maharashtra has formally resumed talks with Shiv Sena on the issue of joining the government, Sena leader Ramdas Kadam on Sunday accused the estranged ally of "fooling" his party by purposely dragging on power sharing deliberations.
He also alleged that BJP leader Eknath Khadse, who is the Revenue Minister, was trying hard to "topple" the Fadnavis government as he was not made the chief minister of the state.
"BJP is only fooling us by constantly saying they want us (Shiv Sena) to be included in the state government. If that was the case, why did they keep doing inconclusive talks for one whole month?" Mr Kadam said in Mumbai.
Observing that the Shiv Sena has made up its mind to sit in the opposition, he said BJP is playing the tactics in a bid to shield itself from Sena's wrath in the upcoming Winter Session of the state Legislature.
"BJP is playing the talks game so that they can protect themselves against us when we rake up issues concerning Maharashtra. They (BJP) are only cheating us by talking about an alliance with us. Nobody trusts BJP now," he said.
Accusing BJP of lacking will power to join hands with Sena again, Mr Kadam said, "Only they (BJP) can say what talks are they exactly conducting at 'Matoshree' (the residence of Thackeray family in suburban Bandra)."
Training his guns on Mr Khadse, whom Sena holds responsible for breaking up of the 25-year-old alliance ahead of the October Assembly elections, Mr Kadam said, "Eknath Khadse has lost sense of what is right and what's wrong.
"He is now trying all possible means to topple the BJP government because he was not made the CM of Maharashtra," he said.
The talks between Shiv Sena and BJP are dragging on, apparently over Sena's demand for the post of Deputy Chief Minister in the Fadnavis-led dispensation and for key portfolios, including Home, whereas BJP is firm on not having a Deputy CM.
However, Sena's support of 63 MLAs is also crucial for BJP which has 121 MLA's in 288-member House to cobble up the magic figure of 145 to have a simple majority.