New Delhi: A group of Congress leaders arrived at Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar's residence on Wednesday, amid reports that the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena were close to sealing a deal for government formation in Maharashtra.
Ahead of the crucial meet, NCP’s Nawab Malik said the only way to form the government was by shaking hands with the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
Malik further added, "There is a presidential rule in Maharashtra. People and farmers are suffering. The administration has been collapsed. There should be an alternative government. There is a meeting between the two parties to find a solution".
Triggering speculation that the much-awaited Maharashtra deal is more or less closed, Shiv Sena strategist Sanjay Raut said that there will be good news soon. "As soon as the Congress-NCP meeting is over, we will meet Pawar sahib", said Raut.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi appears to have come around and finally given the green signal to the coalition with Shiv Sena and NCP for government formation in Maharashtra.
Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan added by saying that they hope to form the government in Maharashtra soon. Certain specifics need to be discussed, he added.
The formula is 16:15:12, with 16 Cabinet Ministers for the Shiv Sena, 15 for the NCP and 12 for the Congress plus Speaker of the Assembly.
The Chief Minister will be on a rotation basis with Shiv Sena holding the CM post for the first 2.5 years and NCP to hold the CM post for the second half of the term.
- On October 24, the declared result of Maharashtra Assembly polls announced BJP as the single-largest party, with 105 seats.
- In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, while Sena secured 56, Congress and NCP won 44 and 54 seats respectively.
- Last week, President's rule was imposed on the recommendation of the Governor BS Koshiyari after not a single party was able to prove numbers for government formation.
