<p>Emboldened by the feelers of support it received from the Opposition NCP-Congress camp, the Shiv Sena on Saturday strengthened its bargaining position by insisting on a deal in writing from the BJP for a 50-50 power-sharing ratio.</p>.<p>This emerged after the 56 newly-elected MLAs called on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, the Bandra bungalow of the Thackeray family on Saturday.</p>.<p>The new MLAs demanded a 50-50 power-sharing ratio, the terms laid down in black-and-white. </p>.<p>Some MLA also backed Uddhav's son and Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray for the post of the Chief Minister. </p>.<p>The Sena MLAs authorised Uddhav to take a final call on the modalities, terms and conditions of the negotiations.</p>.<p>On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Uddhav over the phone and on Friday union home minister and BJP President Amit Shah had a telephone exchange of greetings. </p>.<p>The BJP and Shiv Sena leadership has decided to start the formal process or government formation after the Diwali festivities. </p>.<p>The BJP has a strength of 105 and Shiv Sena 56 in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Besides, Fadnavis had claimed support of 15 Independents and legislators from smaller parties. </p>.<p>After the meeting, senior Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik said that unless there is written assurance from BJP, seat-sharing talks would not start. </p>.<p>"It was decided that the central leadership of the BJP should honour the pact of 50-50 power-sharing agreement, including sharing the post for two-and-a-half-years each...We want this in writing," said Sarnaik, an MLA from Ovala-Majiwada.</p>.<p>He said that the power-sharing agreement was decided at a meeting between Uddhav and Shah ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>Guhagar MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who left NCP ahead of polls, said that the post of Chief Minister has to be split into two terms.</p>.<p>Sillod MLA Abdul Sattar, who had come to the Sena fold from Congress, said: "We want to see Aditya Thackeray as the Chief Minister but the final call would be of Uddhav ji."</p>
<p>Emboldened by the feelers of support it received from the Opposition NCP-Congress camp, the Shiv Sena on Saturday strengthened its bargaining position by insisting on a deal in writing from the BJP for a 50-50 power-sharing ratio.</p>.<p>This emerged after the 56 newly-elected MLAs called on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, the Bandra bungalow of the Thackeray family on Saturday.</p>.<p>The new MLAs demanded a 50-50 power-sharing ratio, the terms laid down in black-and-white. </p>.<p>Some MLA also backed Uddhav's son and Yuva Sena president Aditya Thackeray for the post of the Chief Minister. </p>.<p>The Sena MLAs authorised Uddhav to take a final call on the modalities, terms and conditions of the negotiations.</p>.<p>On Thursday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to Uddhav over the phone and on Friday union home minister and BJP President Amit Shah had a telephone exchange of greetings. </p>.<p>The BJP and Shiv Sena leadership has decided to start the formal process or government formation after the Diwali festivities. </p>.<p>The BJP has a strength of 105 and Shiv Sena 56 in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Besides, Fadnavis had claimed support of 15 Independents and legislators from smaller parties. </p>.<p>After the meeting, senior Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik said that unless there is written assurance from BJP, seat-sharing talks would not start. </p>.<p>"It was decided that the central leadership of the BJP should honour the pact of 50-50 power-sharing agreement, including sharing the post for two-and-a-half-years each...We want this in writing," said Sarnaik, an MLA from Ovala-Majiwada.</p>.<p>He said that the power-sharing agreement was decided at a meeting between Uddhav and Shah ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>Guhagar MLA Bhaskar Jadhav, who left NCP ahead of polls, said that the post of Chief Minister has to be split into two terms.</p>.<p>Sillod MLA Abdul Sattar, who had come to the Sena fold from Congress, said: "We want to see Aditya Thackeray as the Chief Minister but the final call would be of Uddhav ji."</p>