Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Monday resigned from his ministerial post. Taking to Twitter, Arvind Sawant had earlier said he is resigning from the ministerial post'. Sawant also said he would address a press conference on Monday, wherein he will speak on the current political scenario in the state. The development comes as the Sena is set to stake claim to form government in Maharashtra with support from the NCP.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Arvind Sawant said, "I have submitted my resignation to the prime minister."
"We had agreed for 50:50 formula with the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.
"When I have resigned, you can understand what it means," Sawant when asked if Shiv Sena has quit NDA, adding "a new government is now being formed in Maharashtra."
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday had declined to form government in Maharashtra. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Sunday night asked the Shiv Sena to "indicate the willingness and ability" of the party to stake claim, mounting suspense over the formation of government in the state.
While the Sena has been making efforts to reach out to the NCP and the Congress, the Sharad Pawar-led party said the Sena will have to walk out of the NDA first.
On Sunday, Arvind Sawant had said that he will resign from the post of Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises if advised by his party chief, Uddhav Thackeray, amid the BJP refusing to form a government in Maharashtra and daring the Shiv Sena to do so.
Shiv Sena, the second-largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP (105), has time till 7:30 pm on November 11, to stake the claim.
Congress sources said the party legislators from Maharashtra were meeting in Jaipur with senior leaders to discuss the possibility of supporting a Sena-led government.
The MLAs will return to Mumbai from Jaipur Monday afternoon after which the party may announce its stand on the political impasse, a close aide of a senior Congress leader said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra BJP core committee headed by caretaker Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will also meet in Mumbai on Monday.
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