As the tug-of-war between the Siv Sena and the BJP for government formation continues in Maharashtra, the Sena today took an even tougher stand making it clear that they will not “blink first” and look out for other options if BJP is not ready to fulfill its demand for equality in the partnership.

The party even openly talked about reaching the magical figure with the help of Congress, NCP and a few independents, the party said in an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamna.

“If BJP fails to prove majority on the floor of the house, then Sena as the second largest party, will claim to form government,” the article in Saamna said.

“With 54 MLAs of NCP, 44 Cong MLAs and few independents, we can reach majority. The Sena can present its own Chief Minister and for that, 3 parties with independent ideology should form policies which are acceptable to all,” the article added.

In the recent state polls, the BJP won 105 seats, while the Sena got 56, NCP got 54 while Congress won 44 in the 288-member Assembly.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party is demanding the post of Chief Minister for 2.5 years and 50:50 division of portfolios.

The Sena said that during the 2014 government formation Shiv Sena accepted all the terms set by the BJP.

The Saamna editorial further read, “So everyone is expecting Sena to do the same even now. But Uddhav Thackeray made it clear within 8 hours that it won’t be possible this time around. The Sena will not blink first.”

The NCP on Saturday said that if Shiv Sena is ready to form a “people’s government as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj” minus the BJP, The NCP will definitely take a positive view.

NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik took to Twitter and in a series of tweets said, “The NCP will definitely take a positive view if the Shiv Sena is ready to form the people’s government as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, minus the BJP. The alternative will be available if any decision is taken in the interest of the people to form a government.”

However, Sharad Pawar NCP chief earlier on Saturday said that the people’s mandate has asked his party to sit in the opposition and it will do it. Pawar’s comments come amid talks about the possibility of NDA constituent Shiv Sena forming government in Maharashtra with support from the NCP and the Congress. He also called the power tussle over the top post as “childish”.

Earlier, on Thursday, Sharad Pawar had a series of meetings with Congress leaders, including former Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, and they discussed the ongoing BJP-Sena power tussle.

However, both the parties have not revealed their cards except many second-rung leaders advocating a Sena-headed government supported by the NCP-Congress.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Congress has also stated that it intends to play the role of the opposition in Maharashtra. However, it hinted that it could offer “support” to a Shiv Sena-led government.

NCP and Congress want the Sena to openly walk out from the alliance and then seek open support from the opposition.