With a poster calling Aditya Thackeray the ‘future CM’, Shiv Sena mounts pressure on BJP

The results of the Maharashtra Assembly elections have slightly impacted the political equations within the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. The Shiv Sena won 57 seats compared to its 2014 tally of 63, and the BJP secured 105 against its previous score of 122.

As a result, the Shiv Sena appears to be renewing its demand that the two parties “rotate” the post of chief minister for 2.5 years each, and a “50-50 formula” where each party has an equal number of ministers in the Assembly. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray reiterated this “formula” in a press conference yesterday.

Now, a day after the election results, a poster appeared in Aditya Thackeray’s constituency of Worli, projecting him as the state’s future chief minister.

In the same vein, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut tweeted a cartoon showing a tiger (the Shiv Sena symbol) wearing a clock (the NCP symbol) around its neck and sniffing a lotus, which represents the BJP.

The poster and tweet has led to speculation that the Shiv Sena, with the help of the NCP and Congress, will form the government in the state. The party itself has ruled this out, but its leaders are missing no change to up the pressure on the BJP when it comes to chief minister.