Maharashtra Government Formation: NCP, Congress want Uddhav Thackeray to be chief minister, say sources
Uddhav Thackeray may take over as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra and lead an alliance of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, said sources over a crucial on-going meeting between the allies continued today evening. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have left the meeting and very briefly spoke to the media, saying the decision over Maharashtra government formation would be announced at a press conference.
The alliance, tentatively calls itself the "Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (development front)", sources indicated on Thursday. In a meeting between the three parties, NCP and Congress want Uddhav Thackeray to be the new chief minister of Maharashtra, according to sources. Whether the Sena chief will keep his chief ministership for five years or agree to hand over to the NCP after half-term is among the details that are still not ironed out.
The Shiv Sena made it clear that it wants Uddhav Thackeray for the entire term, without any rotational arrangement. A common minimum programme that can accommodate the vastly different agendas of the Sena and the Congress will also be discussed today as the three parties try to find a way of collaborating for the first time.
Late on Thursday evening, as Sharad Pawar returned from Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray went to meet the Nationalist Congress Party chief. Sena leader Sanjay Raut and NCP's Ajit Pawar were also present at the meeting, sources said.
Here are the highlights on developments over Maharashtra government formation:
Maharashtra Government Formation: Uddhav Thackeray To Lead Sena-NCP-Congress Government In Maharashtra
Uddhav Thackeray is the consensus candidate for Chief Minister of a Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance government in Maharashtra, NCP leader Sharad Pawar said after the first joint meeting of the three parties in Mumbai on Friday evening. Mr Thackeray has agreed to be the chief minister, his party Shiv Sena added.
"We all have consensus on the name of Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister," said Sharad Pawar, emerging from the meeting at the Nehru Science Centre. Seconds later, Uddhav Thackeray came out with his son Aaditya and said: "Discussions were positive, fruitful."
All parties said talks would continue tomorrow but for now, it is almost certain that Maharashtra will have a Sena chief after 20 years.
State Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari cancelled his weekend trip to Delhi for a three-day conference and decided to stay in Mumbai, in a sign that the alliance is on track and may stake claim to power any time now.
The first Sena-NCP-Congress meeting took place more than a week after President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra, after elections last month gave no party a majority.
BREAKING: Uddhav Thackeray agrees to be next chief minister, says Sanjay Raut
BREAKING: Uddhav Thackeray agrees to be next chief minister, says Sanjay Raut
Maharashtra Government Formation: "There is consensus on Uddhav Thackeray leading the new government," said Sharad Pawar
There is consensus in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray should lead the new government in Maharashtra, NCP president Sharad Pawar said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.
Mr Pawar's announcement capped a day of hectic meetings between the Congress, NCP and their pre-poll allies and a combined meeting of the three parties later in the day.
Emerging from the marathon meeting of top leaders of the Congress, the NCP and the Shiv Sena, who are making efforts to form government in Maharashtra, Mr Pawar said there was a consensus on Mr Thackeray's leadership.
"The issue of leadership is not pending. There is consensus on Uddhav Thackeray leading the new government," Mr Pawar was quoted as saying by PTI.
Maharashtra Government Formation: "The discussions have been positive," says Prithviraj Chavan
"The discussions have been positive," says Prithviraj Chavan.
Maharashtra Government Formation: "I cannot second-guess what Sharad Pawar has said (on Uddhav Thackeray becoming Chief Minister)," says Congress's Prithviraj Chavan
"I cannot second-guess what Sharad Pawar has said (on Uddhav Thackeray becoming Chief Minister). Whatever he has said is on record. After all details are discussed, we will let you know," says Prithviraj Chavan.
Maharashtra Government Formation: "We reached many conclusions. Reached complete agreement in common positions (over forming alliance)," says Prithviraj Chavan
"As we told you yesterday, discussions between Congress, NCP concluded in Delhi. We reached complete agreement in common positions. We have come to Mumbai and there was a meet between key partners, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. We reached many conclusions. But, talks remain to be concluded. Talks will continue tomorrow," says Congress's Prithviraj Chavan
Maharashtra Government Formation: We all have consensus on the name of Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister, says Sharad Pawar
We all have consensus on the name of Uddhav Thackeray as Chief Minister, Sharad Pawar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Maharashtra Government Formation: Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena discuss power-sharing structure in Maharashtra: news agency PTI
Congress and NCP leadership on Friday discussed Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and power-sharing arrangement with Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray as the process of government formation in Maharashtra involving the three parties gathered pace, reported news agency PTI.
Senior Congress leader Manikrao Thakare told PTI that Friday's meeting of top Congress, NCP and Sena leaders was part of efforts by the three parties to evolve a consensus on development agenda for governance for the prospective ruling coalition.
"The draft of CMP and power-sharing arrangement worked out by the Congress-NCP is being discussed with the Shiv Sena leadership. Based on what has been agreed upon and any suggestions to be incorporated is being worked out further," the former Maharashtra Congress chief was quoted as saying by PTI.
Top leaders of the Sena, the Congress and the NCP met here on Friday to give shape to new government to be led by the Uddhav Thackeray-headed party, nearly a month after assembly poll results were announced.
Eknath Shinde, Subhash Desai, Sanjay Raut (all Shiv Sena), Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal, Avinash Pande, Balasaheb Thorat, Prithviraj Chavan (Congress), Praful Patel, Jayant Patil and Ajit Pawar (NCP) took part in the meeting, reported PTI.
BREAKING: Uddhav Thackeray likely to be chief minister: sources
Uddhav Thackeray likely to be chief minister: sources
BREAKING: Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray leave meeting, Uddhav Thackeray likely to be chief minister: sources
BREAKING: Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray leave meeting.
BREAKING: Sharad Pawar leaves meeting
BREAKING: Sharad Pawar leaves meeting
Maharashtra Government Formation: Congress and NCP say Uddhav Thackeray's voice is final in the Sena and that won't leave any space for any dissent, say sources
Congress and NCP say Uddhav Thackeray's voice is final in the Sena and that won't leave any space for any dissent, say sources
BREAKING: Maharashtra Government Formation: NCP, Congress insist on Uddhav Thackeray to become Chief Minister in the meeting
BREAKING: NCP, Congress insist on Uddhav Thackeray to become Chief Minister in the meeting
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray arrive at Nehru Centre, Mumbai for Congress-Shiv Sena-NCP meeting: news agency ANI
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray arrive at Nehru Centre, Mumbai for Congress-Shiv Sena-NCP meeting: news agency ANI
Maharashtra Government Formation: Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress are meeting in Mumbai
The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress are meeting in Mumbai to close the deal on their alliance for government formation in Maharashtra.
READ HERE: Maharashtra News: Sharad Pawar Asks Uddhav Thackeray To Be Chief Minister In Meet: SourcesThe Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress are meeting in Mumbai to close the deal on their alliance for government formation in Maharashtra. A midnight meeting between Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar set the stage for a final round of meetings today. Sources say Sharad Pawar urged Uddhav Thackeray to take the Chief Minister's post, but the Sena chief said he would "get back" to him on the offer after consulting his MLAs. The alliance talks picked up pace after Congress president Sonia Gandhi gave her approval to partnering the ideologically incompatible Sena.
Maharashtra Government Formation: "We are going for meeting (Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena), where discussions will be held": Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge
"We are going for meeting (Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena), where discussions will be held. We will do a briefing after the meeting," Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was quoted as saying by news agency ANI in Mumbai.
Congress Legislative Party meeting underway at Maharashtra Vidhan Bhavan
The Government will Not Go Much Ahead: Nitin Gadkari Reacting to the proposed alliance, BJP senior leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, "There are ideological differences among Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP. The govt will not go much ahead even if it is formed."
Meeting underway between Congress-NCP leaders in Mumbai A meeting is underway between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party leaders and other alliance partners in Mumbai.
Shiv Sena's Kishori Pednekar and Suhas Wadkar elected unopposed as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation respectively, news agency ANI reported.
Congress leader Manikrao Thakre: It is almost final that the next Maharashtra Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena. NCP has never demanded the position of Chief Minister.
Uddhav Thackeray meets Shiv Sena legislators in MumbaiUddhav Thackeray meets Shiv Sena legislators in Mumbai as govt formation process gathers momentum.
The Shiv Sena won't go with the BJP "even if Lord Indra's throne is offered", Sena leader Sanjay Raut declared on Friday on the possibility of the long-time allies getting back together. He also asserted that the Shiv Sena would have the chief minister's post for a full five-year term.
"The time for offers has ended," Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha member of the Shiv Sena, said on reports that the BJP had agreed to share the chief minister's post with the Sena after all. The two parties fell out after contesting last month's Maharashtra polls together after the BJP rejected the Sena's demand for rotational chief ministership.
Sharad Pawar, the man at the center of government formation talks in Maharashtra, has "outwitted the so-called Chanakya of Indian politics", a senior leader of his party said on Friday. The comment is seen to be directed at BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who is often credited for being instrumental in the BJP's victories in several elections and government formations in the country. The government formation in Maharashtra is in its home stretch as Mr Pawar's party, the NCP, the Shiv Sena and the Congress are likely to announce an alliance today after a series of meetings.
Reacting to the question of whether Sharad Pawar has suggested Sanjay Raut's name for the chief minister, Sanjay Raut said, "This is incorrect. People of Maharashtra want Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister."
Sena Won't Side with BJP Even If Offered Lord Indra's Throne: Sanjay Raut Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that Shiv Sena won't side with BJP even if offered Lord Indra's throne. "Why to meet governor when President's rule is in place," the Shiv Sena leader added.
Sanjay Raut says chief minister from Shiv Sena for 5 years
Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reiterated that his party will get the Maharashtra chief minister's post when the three-party alliance with Congress and NCP assumes power. "Shiv Sena Chief Minister will be there for full 5 years," he said.
"Sometimes it's better to quit a relationship for self respect": Sanjay Raut Taking a dig at the former ally, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in a tweet said, "Sometimes it's better to quit a relationship for self respect."
Uddhav Thackeray may take over as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra and lead the unthinkable Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress alliance, which tentatively calls itself the "Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (development front)", sources indicated on Thursday. Whether the Sena chief will keep his chief ministership for five years or agree to hand over to the NCP after half-term is among the details that are still not ironed out.
On Thursday morning, as the Congress Working Committee met at Sonia Gandhi's home, leaders asked the party chief to consider the "changed circumstances" in Maharashtra after the Shiv Sena ended its alliance with the BJP and requested the Congress and NCP's support. The greater enemy in the fight against communalism is the BJP, the Congress chief was told.
Letters of support to be handed over to the Governor on SaturdayThe Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut said letters of support from the MLAs of all three parties will be handed over to the Governor on Saturday. "On Saturday, a letter signed by the MLAs of the three parties will be handed over to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari," he said. Sources in the Sena and NCP say "if all goes well, a swearing in ceremony will take place on Sunday or Monday."
Late on Thursday evening, as Sharad Pawar returned from Delhi, Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray went to meet the Nationalist Congress Party chief. Sena leader Sanjay Raut and NCP's Ajit Pawar were also present at the meeting, sources said.