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:
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.
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.
Shiv Sena Leader Sanjya Raut Amid Maharashtra Negotiations Says, "By Tomorrow You'll Know"
Watch live: Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut addresses media amid Maharashtra logjam. #Maharashtra #MaharashtraPolitics https://t.co/FAd5Tex8dJ
- NDTV (@ndtv) November 20, 2019
