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MUMBAI: The protracted end- game in the battle of wills between Shiv Sena and BJP seems to have entered a decisive phase, with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray looking set to force the issue on his own terms. Shiv Sena has told the state BJP in no uncertain terms that it would not back the Devendra Fadnavis ministry if the chief minister doesn’t induct Sena ministers into his cabinet by Saturday. Sena’s ultimatum has been conveyed to BJP, a key Sena functionary said. However, BJP is in no mood to yield to its former ally’s demands, party sources said.
 
Sena reiterated its demand for the deputy chief minister’s post and also 10 ministerial portfolios, including five cabinet posts. Should there be no post of deputy CM, then Matoshree wants 12 ministerial berths, including six portfolios of cabinet rank, sources said. BJP, however, has told Matoshree that the deputy chief minister’s post cannot be created under any circumstances and that Sena will not get more than eight portfolios, including four cabinet posts.

Should there be no formal proposal from BJP, Sena will go ahead and elect its legislature party leader who will then be the leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly, sources said. Sena, with 63 MLAs, is the second-largest party in the 288-member Vidhan Sabha after BJP’s 122.
 
The Fadnavis ministry, which is slated to face the trust vote on November 12, needs the Sena’s support to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly.

However, in an attempt to defuse the tension, senior Sena leader Anil Desai on Tuesday told mediapersons that talks between Sena and BJP were underway and that an "honourable" settlement could be arrived at very soon.
 
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray held a show of strength at the famous Karla temple of goddess Ekvira Devi, near Lonavla, on Tuesday. The Sena president was here, along with all party MLAs, to seek the goddess’ bssings before the three-day special session of the Assembly beginning November 10. Ekvira Devi is the Thackerays’family deity.

Addressing Sena MLAs and party workers, Thackeray said, "Today, I have come to Ekvira Devi’s shrine with 63 MLAs. But, very soon I will come here with 180 MLAs."

The rhetoric was clearly aimed at BJP in order to extract a larger share in power in lieu of Sena’s support. "Sena and BJP are playing a cat-and-mouse game when actually both need each other. Sena finds the prospects of joining the Fadnavis government extremely alluring. BJP too would prefer the Sena to the NCP, but is wary of the former’s overbearing attitude," said a former bureaucrat who has been a close witness to the highs and lows of state politics.
 
BJP sees two problems for the government in seeking Sena’s support—Matoshree’s high-handedness and ever-swelling demand for more share in power. "Sena can be petulant, even cantankerous. If we take Sena’s help, Matoshree will keep bullying us, and make new demands every week. Sena as a post-poll ally is a risky proposition," sighed a BJP functionary.