Sena rakes up Jaitapur issue before Cabinet expansion

Ahead of the much-talked-about Cabinet expansion and possible inclusion of the Shiv Sena, the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government in Maharashtra faces a major hurdle yet again, with Sena president Uddhav Thackeray reiterating his opposition to the Jaitapur nuclear power project.

Meanwhile, senior Sena leader and Mumbai North-West MP Gajanan Kirtikar has said his party would join the government only with respect and honour.

“We want a one-third (Shiv Sena) and two-third (BJP) power-sharing arrangement, the post of deputy chief minister and some portfolios. If we are given honour and respect, Uddhav ji would definitely consider it,” Kirtikar said.

However, at the same time, the Shiv Sena in an editorial in party mouthpieces “Saamana” and “Dopahar ka Saamana” praised Fadnavis for taking the lead in building a memorial in honour Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji.

“If the chief minister initiates steps to build a memorial to Shivaji Maharaj, the work on it can be completed soon. We welcome the chief minister's willingness to construct the memorial at the earliest. Maharashtra has a rich history only because of Shivaji,” it said.

On the other hand, Thackeray reiterated the party's opposition to the Jaitapur project.
“We are firm on it and we will not allow the Jaitapur project.

We are committed to our earlier stand,” he told reporters in Ratnagiri on Saturday, kicking off his two-day tour of the Konkan coastal belt after the party's success in the Assembly elections.