5 years ago
New Delhi:
The Shiv Sena, two days to the deadline for government formation in Maharashtra, doubled down on its demand for the Chief Minister's post and said no new options would be discussed with ally BJP. "There is no need for a new proposal now," said Sena's Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Wednesday. Yesterday the BJP said its door was "open 24 hours" to discuss a formula with the Shiv Sena. But the party also underscored that it would form a government under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP says it has the support of 115 MLAs. The Sena which won 56 seats, says it has the support of 63 along with independents but its chances of working out an arrangement with the Congress-Sharad Pawar alliance looks bleak, with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi reportedly ruling out such a possibility.
Here are the live updates on Maharashtra government formation:
BJP will meet Maharashtra Governor tomorrow, says Shaina NC
BJP's Shaina NC says the party will meet the Maharashtra governor tomorrow, hinting an end to the impasse in the state. The Shiv Sena however remains firm in their position. Sanjay Gupta of the Shiv Sena said, "We are sticking to our demands. We will support the BJP only if they meet them. We want to execute our manifesto and want the chief ministerial position for the first half of the term."
BJP's Shaina NC says the party will meet the Maharashtra governor tomorrow, hinting an end to the impasse in the state. The Shiv Sena however remains firm in their position. Sanjay Gupta of the Shiv Sena said, "We are sticking to our demands. We will support the BJP only if they meet them. We want to execute our manifesto and want the chief ministerial position for the first half of the term."
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar today said a BJP-Shiv Sena government is the only viable option in Maharashtra and the two parties should take power instead of plunging the state into a constitutional crisis. "The BJP-Sena have been allies for over 25 years. They should take immediate steps to give the state a new government," Mr Pawar said, speaking to reporters after his meeting with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the second since the BJP-Sena feud following the Maharashtra election results on October 24.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar today said the BJP and Shiv Sena should form government in Maharashtra instead of plunging the state into a constitutional crisis. He was speaking to reporters after his meeting with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the second since the BJP-Sena feud following the Maharashtra election results on October 24.
Where is the question of a Shiv Sena-NCP government? They(BJP-Shiv Sena) are together for the last 25 years, today or tomorrow they will come together again. The centre should help farmers whose crops have been damaged due to rains. I have visited affected areas and feel that farmers must be provided relief. Another issue is insurance companies are not paying farmers for crop damage, Finance ministry should intervene in this matter.
Maharashtra Election Results: Our mandate is to play the role of Opposition, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar
I don't have anything to say yet. BJP and Shiv Sena have got the mandate of people, so they should form the government as soon as possible. Our mandate is to play the role of Opposition, says Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
The Shiv Sena, two days to the deadline for government formation in Maharashtra, doubled down on its demand for the Chief Minister's post and said no new options would be discussed with ally BJP. "There is no need for a new proposal now," said Sena's Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Wednesday. The BJP had yesterday said its door was "open 24 hours" to discuss a formula with the Shiv Sena but Devendra Fadnavis would be Chief Minister and that was non-negotiable.
This is the second meeting between the two leaders over government formation in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Government Formation
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut after meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in Mumbai: He is a senior leader of the state and the country. He is worried about the political situation in Maharashtra today.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut after meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in Mumbai: He is a senior leader of the state and the country. He is worried about the political situation in Maharashtra today.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut arrives to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut arrives to meet NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his residence. pic.twitter.com/Zeg6htzUmI
- ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2019
Maharashtra Election Results
Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena, in Mumbai: We'll only have discussions on the proposal that we had agreed on before the assembly polls. No new proposals will be exchanged now. BJP and Shiv Sena had an agreement on the post of Chief Minister before elections and then only we moved ahead for an alliance for elections.
Over the weekend, a Sena leader wrote to Mohan Bhagwat, asking him to intervene and resolve the deadlock, since the BJP was not following "coalition dharma". Kishore Tiwari, a farmers' rights activist, even suggested that senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, be made part of negotiations to resolve the crisis.
The deadline for government formation in Maharashtra around 72 hours away, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a beeline for Nagpur to meet Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
