21:04 November 16
Sonia-Pawar meeting postponed to Monday
According to reports, the meeting between interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, which was scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed by a day to November 18. However, the time of the meeting has not been finalised yet.
20:03 November 16
New Maha govt under leadership of Shiv Sena CM
Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the new government in Maharashtra will be under the leadership of a Shiv Sena Chief Minister.
"Undoubtedly, the government that we are going to form in Maharashtra will be under the leadership of a Shiv Sena Chief Minister," he said.
Indicating that his party has now virtually quit the NDA, Raut added, "There is a lot of difference between the old NDA and today's NDA. Who is the convener of NDA today? Advani ji who was one of its founders has either left or is inactive."
17:33 November 16
Guv announces relief for farmers hit by unseasonal rains
Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari announced a relief of Rs 8000 per hectare up to two hectares for agricultural Kharif crops, and a relief of Rs 18000 per hectare up to 2 hectares for horticulture/perennial crops, following damage to crops by unseasonal rains during October-November.
17:13 November 16
Now that Sena has quit NDA, ideology not an issue: Patole
Speaking to ETV Bharat, senior Congress leader Nana Patole said that the difference in ideology between his party and the Shiv Sena is not a big issue now as the Sena has virtually quit the NDA.
"Now that the Shiv Sena has quit the NDA, and wants to join the UPA, the subject of ideology is finished," he said, adding that if the BJP can ally with the PDP, the Congress can certainly join hands with Shiv Sena.
Patole further added that the meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar tomorrow will not only be on government formation, as farmer issues are also expected to be discussed.
16:45 November 16
Shiv Sena may skip tomorrow's NDA meeting
The Shiv Sena is not likely to attend a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) scheduled in New Delhi on November 17 on the eve of Parliament session, party MP Sanjay Raut said.
"No, we will not attend the meeting. This is nearly finalised," Raut said when questioned by mediapersons here this afternoon, indicating that the party has virtually split from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA.
16:41 November 16
Sena expected to sit in Oppn in Parliament: Reports
According to reports, the seating arrangement of Shiv Sena MPs Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai in the Parliament has changed now. Shiv Sena is now expected to sit in the opposition.
16:39 November 16
Sena-NCP-Cong meeting with Guv postponed
According to reports, the meeting of the delegation of the three parties - NCP, Congress, and Shiv Sena with the Governor, which was scheduled for 4:30 pm today, has been postponed till further notice.
16:16 November 16
Ideology differs, but NCP-Sena-Cong govt will run on CMP: Gaikwad
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Mumbai Congress President Eknath Gaikwad said that the further strategy of the prospective Sena-NCP-Congress government will be fixed only after the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) is fixed.
"All other issues like the structure of the ministry will be fixed once our leaders fix the Common Minimum Programme," he said, expressing confidence that there will soon be a headway in government formation.
On the difference in ideology between Shiv Sena and his party, Gaikwad said, "Yes we differ in ideology, but the government will run only on the basis on the Common Minimum Programme."
"Ultimately, we have to work for the people and provide justice to the people of Maharashtra, who are currently distressed," he added.
13:10 November 16
Meeting of Maharashtra BJP leaders underway in Mumbai
Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and party's state chief Chandrakant Patil are present at the meeting of Maharashtra state party leaders in Mumbai as confusion still prevails over the government formation in the state.
12:27 November 16
As Maha equations change, Raut tweets about 'naya mausam'
Amid the current political stalemate in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday cryptically said advent of "new weather" is letting him forget "old pain".
At present, the Shiv Sena is in the process of working out a new equation with erstwhile rivals, NCP and Congress, as it tries to form government in the state.
12:16 November 16
Out of power, BJP afraid turncoat MLAs may defect, says Malik
The Maharashtra BJP is bedevilled by the trepidation that politicians who joined the party ahead of the October 21 Assembly polls will defect and, hence, its leaders are claiming they will form government in the state, the NCP said on Saturday.
NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik made the remarks a day after Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said his party will soon form the government and claimed it can count on the support of 119 MLAs, including Independents, in the 288-member Assembly.
12:16 November 16
BJP's confidence of govt formation in Maharashtra hints at horse-trading, alleges Sena
The Shiv Sena alleged on Saturday that the BJP now exuding confidence of forming government in Maharashtra after backing off initially, makes its intention of horse-trading under the guise of President's rule evident.
In its mouthpiece Saamana, Sena also hit out at former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over his remark that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance won't last beyond six months, saying the new political equation was giving "stomach ache to several people".
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil had on Friday said that they will soon form government in the state, claiming that his party can count on support of 119 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly.
"Those with 105 seats had earlier conveyed to the governor that they do not have the majority. How come are they now claiming that only they will form the government?" Sena said in Saamana.
Maharashtra has been under President's rule since Tuesday after no party or alliance staked claim to form government or conveyed support of adequate number of MLAs to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
11:05 November 16
Maharashtra govt formation LIVE: Sena-NCP-Congress alliance to meet guv today
Mumbai:Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress leaders have sought time from Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for a meeting on Saturday to discuss farmers issue.
As per sources, Shiv Sena was quite keen for a swearing-in ceremony on November 17 - death anniversary of Bal Thackeray, but leaders from Congress and NCP have refuted these speculations and they say that even if the leaders of three parties here in Maharashtra agree on a Common Minimum Programme, high commands nod for all three parties will take time.
Earlier also, Congress-NCP leaders together and Shiv Sena leaders alone have met Governor about the issue of relief to farmers, but this will be the first time when a delegation from all the three parties will meet the Governor.
The Sena reached out to the Congress-NCP combine for government formation after its demand for sharing the chief minister's post and equal distribution of portfolios was rejected by the BJP, its pre-poll ally.
The BJP and the Sena, which fought the October 21 polls in alliance, secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats, respectively, in the 288-member assembly.
Read: No mid-term polls; Sena-NCP-Cong govt to last 5 years: Pawar