MUMBAI, Oct 27 � As the BJP prepared to elect the leader of its legislature party tomorrow who will be the party�s first Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena today appeared resigned to backing it in government formation, but there was no clarity yet on whether it will join the ministry, reports PTI.
The newly elected BJP MLAs will meet here at 11 am tomorrow in the presence of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and party�s general secretary in-charge of the state J P Nadda to elect their leader.
�After the legislature party leader is elected, we will call on Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and stake claim to form government tomorrow itself,� BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy told PTI.
State BJP president Devendra Fadnavis (44), is being seen as a clear favourite for the Chief Minister�s post.
According to party sources, the new government will be sworn in on October 31 in the presence of top central leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several of his Cabinet colleagues and BJP Chief Ministers.
Speaking openly in favour of a BJP-led coalition government for the first time, senior Sena leader and spokesman Sanjay Raut said it will be a �stable� dispensation.
�If Shiv Sena and BJP come together to form a government it will be stable. Our ties with BJP are very old. Whatever happened during the election we have have forgotten. Ours is not like an India-Pakistan fight.
�The people have given mandate to BJP. It has got more seats. It is our duty (to lend support to BJP). Sena�s support will always be there for a Chief Minister who works in the interest of Maharashtra,� he said.
