Shiv Sena wants Aaditya to become CM, says Sanjay Raut

Mumbai: Even as the BJP’s stand on the issue of the chief minister’s post remains firm, Shiv Sena continues to stake its claim to the position. Senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday stirred up a hornet’s nest by reiterating that his party will bag the chief minister’s position after the Assembly election.

Ever since both parties announced their plan to contest the Vidhan Sabha election in alliance, their leaders have been making statements over the chief minister’s post. Both parties have been laying their claim on the coveted position.

Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray’s “Jan Aashirwad Yatra” reached Manmad on Saturday. Speaking at a conclave of party workers, Mr Raut quipped that if the rally itself is getting such a huge response, how many more will turn up when a Shiv Sena leader takes oath as the chief minister in October.

The Sena leader backed Mr Thackeray for taking over as the next chief minister of the state. “Maharashtra has got a dynamic youth leader in the form of Aaditya and people of all faiths are looking up to him with hope,” he said.

Mr Raut added that Sena workers have already decided that their party will form the next government and that Mr Thackeray will occupy the chief minister’s position.

Earlier, Maharashtra BJP in-charge Saroj Pandey had insisted that the next CM would be from her party only. Following the statement, a Shiv Sena corporator in Nashik raised a banner opposite the BJP office proclaiming that the next CM will be from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.