BJP-Sena Win In Maharashtra, Hung House In Haryana

Congress puts up a robust show in northern State even as the debutant Jannayak Janta Party emerges as a regional force to reckon with

Sena’s Uddhav Insists On 50:50 Formula

Sharad Vyas & Alok Deshpande

The ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance on Thursday managed to retain control of the Maharashtra Assembly, but with a reduced mandate. The alliance suffered losses in Vidarbha and western Maharashtra, with nine Ministers losing in the election.

With reduced numbers, the BJP will now be dependent on the Sena to form the government. Upping the ante, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, speaking at a press conference after the results, said it was time to implement the 50-50 formula for power-sharing, as decided earlier.

Mr. Thackeray said, “It is time to remind the BJP about the formula arrived at when BJP chief Amit Shah visited my home...” Prior to elections, the Sena had pitched Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray as the next deputy Chief Ministe, a demand which the BJP neither accepted nor denied publicly.