The BJP and the Shiv Sena are set to be allies again. Sena sources are hopeful when Prime Minister Narendra Modi expands his cabinet on Sunday, the party's Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai and former MP Suresh Prabhu, will figure in the new ministry.
Sena spokesperson Nilam Gore confirmed conciliatory talks between the two parties are on. Power-sharing issue in the state will be resolved after the Union cabinet expansion, sources said.
"Desai's seat will be from the Sena quota while Prabhu's will be from the BJP quota. BJP leaders have decided to give Prabhu Rajya Sabha seat from their quota. We are happy," Sena sources said.
Prabhu is likely to be made the railway minister. Anil Desai has already left Mumbai for New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony.
"We are supposed to get two cabinet ministers and one minister of state. Anant Geete is already there as Union heavy industries minister. The second ministry will be given on Sunday, while the minister of state portfolio will be offered during further expansion," said Gore.
On the deadlock in the state, she said: "We are working out a solution and soon our leader president Uddhav Thackeray will make an announcement."
Desai was one person who was instrumental in keeping the Sena-BJP alliance intact. In this, he was supported by Goregaon MLA Subhash Desai.
"The Desai duo had played a crucial role in cementing the alliance. Anil Desai is a trusted aide of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray," said Sena sources.
"If we do not have a stable government in state, we will be unable to take major decisions and implement big projects. Sena is our natural partner even though the NCP had given the BJP outside support. We are positively working out some workable formula with the consult of Modiji. An announcement in this regard will be made soon," a Sena leader said on condition of anonymity.
"Modi wants experienced and people with good track record like Prabhu in his cabinet. Prabhu is a chartered accountant by profession and an experienced Union minister. He has worked under former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as water resources minister. It was under his tenure that an ambitious plan to connect all prominent rivers with each other to ensure water availability at all times was drawn up," said a source
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