Announcing the BJP’s decision, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil accused the Shiv Sena, which is adamant on its demand for a rotational chief ministership, of disrespecting the popular mandate secured by the BJP and the Sena in recent assembly polls.
He wished good luck to the Sena if it wanted to form the government with the help of opposition Congress and NCP.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has invited the Shiv Sena, the second largest party, to stake claim to form government, hours after the BJP declined such attempt.
The BJP won 105 seats in the elections, while the majority mark in the 288-member Assembly is 145. Its ally Shiv Sena had won 56 seats.
The term of the 13th state Assembly ended on Saturday.
Reacting to the BJP’s announcement that it would not form government in Maharashtra, senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has said the party would install its chief minister at any cost.
Earlier, Maharashtra BJP’s core committee members led by the acting chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met the governor on Sunday evening.
The committee held two meetings. Devendra Fadnavis, state unit head Chandrakant Patil, and other senior leaders attended the meetings.