Chief Ministership for party with highest seats, no such formula in Maha Vikas Aghadi: Sanjay Raut

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that there is no formula on the Chief Minister’s post in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He dismissed the formula that the highest seat winner party will name the Chief Minister.

His claim assumes significance in the backdrop of his party’s insistence that the Chief Minister face should be announced before the elections, possibly from his party. Congress and NCP (SP) leaders reacted to this and said that it would be decided after the elections.

Addressing the media, Raut said, “We (MVA) had seat-sharing meetings for four consecutive days. A leader with the ability to win is our formula. We will have to consider every constituent in society while distributing tickets for 288 seats. Many tangles have been sorted out. We will still have to thrash out some. Everybody has their own opinion. But the seat-sharing will conclude in a peaceful and smooth manner.”

Party with the highest seat to name the CM

Raut said, “There is no such formula in the MVA that the party with the highest seat will get the Chief Minister’s post. This has not been decided. It will not be the formula in the future too. A face assented by Maharashtra will become the Chief Minister. This is our formula. We will fight together and will come to power, for which we are ready to sacrifice our individual ambitions. We have unanimity on 200 seats.

“We do not contest elections on a formula. There was no formula during the Lok Sabha polls. Similarly, we will fight in the State Assembly elections. We will not allow anyone to insist on a particular number of seats. The seat-sharing talks should be over before the first week of October. Then we will either hold meetings on the manifesto or think about a joint campaign.”