Senior leaders of Maharashtra BJP on Thursday met governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to discuss 'legal aspects' of the delay in formation of a government in the state after the October 21 elections.
Those who met Koshyari included state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and ministers Sudhir Mungantiwar and Girish Mahajan.
Patil admitted that it is taking 'more than normal' time to forge a ruling alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Koshyari, Patil said, 'It is true that it has taken more than normal time to stake claim for government formation in Maharashtra.'
'We discussed the legal aspects of the current situation with the governor. We will hold talks with our leaders and decide next course of action,' the state BJP chief said.
Ahead of the meeting, Mungantiwar had stated that the BJP would not stake claim to form the government.
He also dubbed as 'unfair' the talks that Shiv Sena MLAs may cross sides, amid the stalemate over government formation in the state.
The BJP was of the opinion that people's mandate should be respected, the state finance minister said.
'The BJP is against forming a minority government in Maharashtra,' he said.
Asked about Shiv Sena's insistence on sharing the chief minister's post, Mungantiwar said, 'Fadnavis is not just a BJP leader, but he should be seen as Sena's chief minister as well. There should be no doubt about his leadership and acceptance across the party lines.'
'Even the Shiv Sena has said in various ways that it wants to stay with the BJP and form government. There are some hurdles, but they will be addressed,' he added.
Mungantiwar asserted that the deadlock over government formation was not from the BJP's side.
He also dismissed talks that the Shiv Sena MLAs may switch sides.
'The Shiv Sena is well aware of its MLAs and their loyalty. It is unfair on part of the MLAs to talk about split in the party. It is an insult of an elected representative to talk about splitting. It is unfair,' he said.
Mungantiwar also dismissed rumours that Union minister Nitin Gadkari may be appointed as the state's chief minister.
'Nitinji will never come to Maharashtra. It is not even his distant dream to come to Maharashtra as chief minister,' he said.
