In the October 21 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats while the Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats. Besides, the NCP got 54 seats and the Congress 44.
Though the BJP and Shiv Sena contested the elections jointly, the Amit Shah-led party's refusal to share the Chief Minister's post became the bone of contention between the saffron parties, resulting in a stalemate over government formation after the poll results were declared on 24 October.
If the Sena decides to form government with the support of the opposition parties, the collective strength of the three parties in the House will go up to 154, above the halfway mark of 145.
While the Congress is holding up its cards, the NCP made it clear on Sunday that the Shiv Sena would have to break away from the NDA before the Sharad Pawar-led party can think of lending support to Uddhav Thackeray's party. However, Raut has been unfazed and reiterating that his party would have its Chief Minister in the state at any cost.
