Sanjay Raut said that a decision on government formation in Maharashtra can be taken by tomorrow.
The NCP and Congress held a meeting this evening to discuss how to partner with the Shiv Sena, which had recently ended its decades-old alliance with the BJP over a power tussle.
Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that all the obstacles that stalled talks of alliance formation in Maharashtra have been cleared, hinting that his party will form the government along with Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress in the state. Mr Raut said that a decision on the matter can be taken as early as tomorrow.
Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss farmers' crisis in the state. The two leaders will meet in parliament in the afternoon. The meeting is significant at a time Sharad Pawar's NCP is much sought after for an alliance that can take power in Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena wanted a guarantee of 50:50 power-sharing, including rotational chief ministership, but the BJP rejected it.
In the October 21 Maharashtra polls, the BJP-Sena alliance had secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats respectively in the 288-member Assembly. The Congress and the NCP, the pre-poll allies, had won 44 and 54 seats respectively.
Here are Highlights of Maharashtra government formation:
Will provide Maharashtra a stable government: Chavan after Cong-NCP meet
The Congress-NCP alliance on Wednesday gave its most categorical indication about joining hands with arch rival Shiv Sena, with former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan expressing confidence of forming a "stable" government soon in the state after a marathon meeting of senior leaders of the two parties. While the Congress leader hoped that political uncertainty will soon end in Maharashtra, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik was unambiguous about the need to join hands with the Sena, asserting that a government cannot be formed in the state without the three parties coming together. This is the most emphatic public statement by the Congress-NCP combine about their intent to join hands with the Sena to form a government. A senior NCP leader said a government is likely to be formed before the first phase of the Jharkhand polls scheduled on November 30.
NCP-Congress Address Joint Press Conference
The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party held a joint press conference today. Congress leader Prithvi Raj Chavan said that the talks between the two parties were positive. He added that the two parties expect to form a stable government in the state soon.
Congress In Separate Meets With Sharad Pawar, Sanjay Raut On MaharashtraThe NCP and Congress held a meeting this evening to discuss how to partner with the Shiv Sena, which had recently ended its decades-old alliance with the BJP over a power tussle.
Sharad Pawar-PM Modi meet 2 days after Rajya Sabha praise
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon over the farm crisis in Maharashtra, causing a buzz in the middle of intense political activity to form a government in the state after a week of President's Rule.
"Due to the prevalence of Presidential Rule in the state, your urgent intervention is highly necessitated. I shall be grateful, if you take immediate steps to initiate massive relief measures and ameliorate the miseries of distressed farmers," Mr Pawar wrote to PM Modi in a three-page letter, accessed by NDTV.
The meeting was seen as significant at a time Sharad Pawar's NCP is much sought after for an alliance that can take power in Maharashtra after no party won a majority in last month's election. An offer of the President's post for the 79-year-old Maharashtra stalwart is also believed to be on the table.
The BJP (105) and Sena (56) together scored a comfortable majority in the Maharashtra election last month but fell out over the Sena's demand for rotational chief ministership. The Sena is confident of forming government along with the NCP and Congress.
"Congress and NCP are trying to corner Shiv Sena," says BJP leader
BJP leader Ram Kadam said that the Congress and NCP are trying to corner Shiv Sena. He also said that despite holding several meetings the three parties are nowhere close to forming a government in the state.
"Both Congress and NCP are trying to corner Shiv Sena," Ram Kadam was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
"It is unfortunate that for last 28 days all the three parties (Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena) are holding meetings after meetings without any conclusion. When will their meetings end?" Mr Kadam said.
"On one hand it is being shown that meetings are going on while on the other hand, senior leaders of NCP are issuing statements denying it," he said.
"They have no agenda, no plan. While one party admits having a common minimum programme, the other is out-right contradicting it. Their ideologies are entirely different and they cannot take Maharashtra forward," said the BJP leader.
Sharad Pawar to meet PM Modi Today on farmers' crisis
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi today to discuss farmers' crisis in Maharashtra amid intense political activity to form a government after no party won a majority in last month's election.
The two leaders will meet in parliament in the afternoon.
The meeting is significant at a time Sharad Pawar's NCP is much sought after for an alliance that can take power in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has told reporters that all the obstacles regarding government formation have been cleared. Mr Raut said that a decision on the matter can be taken as early as tomorrow.
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