'NDA would decide next PM if BJP wins 100 seats less than 2014,' says Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut
After announcing a 50:50 poll pact with the BJP for the upcoming election, Shiv Sena has again resorted to show displeasure with the ruling party as Sanjay Raut has cleared that NDA will decide upon next PM.
Sanjay Raut, who was asked about the uncertainty over 2019 polls and about the next Prime Minister, replied, “If BJP wins 100 seats less than last time, NDA will decide who should be the PM.”
In case of hung assembly, reports have emerged that the alliance partners of the BJP would back Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for PM. On this issue, Sanjay Raut, in an exclusive interview said, “I did not back Gadkari for PM. Such reports have been coming from the media and the RSS. We haven’t placed any such condition (of Gadkari being PM) before the BJP. Besides, why name just Gadkari? BJP has several faces.”
The BJP and Shiv Sena have resorted to contest upon equal numbers of seat in the Assembly election and now the question about who would choose the CM looms large. But Sanjay Raut has clearly stated “We will see that. But, I can tell you that there will be a Shiv Sena CM.”
Raut added that “We are still the big brother in the state. The BJP had won 123 seats and Sena 63 in the 2014 Assembly polls. Despite this, the BJP has agreed for equal seat-sharing and has also agreed to give us the seats of our choice. Besides, the BJP is positive about giving chief ministership to the Shiv Sena.”
Also read: Lok Sabha 2019: After BJP-AIADMK alliance, Rahul Gandhi to announce poll pact with DMK today
First published: 20 February 2019, 12:07 IST