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No NCP, Uddhav tells BJP; Fadnavis hits back, rules out talks

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Sulking Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-elect Devendra Fadnavis.
Sulking Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister-elect Devendra Fadnavis.
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: Shortly after Shiv Sena chief declared his party was willing to sit in opposition if BJP forms government in Maharashtra with help from NCP, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ruled out further talks with Sena on the number of ministers and portfolios.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, after meeting his party leaders in Mumbai, told mediapersons in the evening that his party’s future course of action depends on how BJP responds to NCP leaders who have already announced their outside support to a BJP government in the state.

Thackeray said he would like to stay with BJP for the sake of Hindutva but any alliance with NCP is not acceptable to his men.

Earlier, Shiv Sena MPs boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of the first expansion of the Modi Cabinet at the Centre as Anil Desai, the only Sena leader who was tipped to become a minister, returned from Delhi to Mumbai in the morning.

Shortly after Uddhav spoke to mediapersons, Fadnavis hit back saying his party would not hold talks with Sena any more on the number of berths in his ministry and portfolios although he was open to discuss policy issues only.

“Yes, BJP was willing to hold discussions on matters related to principles. But hereafter, BJP will not entertain any discussion with Shiv Sena on minsters, number of cabinet berths or portfolios,” Fadnavis said at BJP headquarter in Mumbai.

Fadnavis had spoken to party chief Amit Shah in the afternoon.