Maharashtra govt formation Highlights: Governor invites Sena to form govt, NCP dials Uddhav Thackeray

Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot said on Sunday said the BJP has dishonoured the mandate of the people of Maharashtra by its failure to form government in the state even after 15 days of the elections result.

“Despite a pre-poll alliance with the Shiv Sena, the BJP has not been able to form the government in Maharashtra and by doing so, the party has dishonoured the mandate of the people of the state,” PTI quoted him as saying.

Aaditya Thackeray and other Shiv Sena leaders arrive at Matoshree on Sunday. (ANI)

Mumbai: Aaditya Thackeray and other Shiv Sena leaders arrive at Matoshree (Thackeray residence). #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/EbGuZhM4oG

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

NCP chief Sharad Pawar speaks to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray over Govt formation.

Maharashtra Governor invites Shivsena as second largest party to form Government tomorrow till 7.30 pm.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan Sunday said the party does not want President's Rule in the state after the BJP declined to form government in the state today. Chavan said newly-elected MLAs of the party will seek advice from the party high-command over its future political stand in the state.

"We are in Jaipur. We will discuss the issue here and will seek advice for the future political stand. The party doesn't want president's rule in the state," PTI quoted him as saying.

"We are keeping an eye on recent developments. We are meeting now and discussing all the options before us. We have not decided anything yet," Congress leader Ashok Chavan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Ashok Chavan, Congress on Maharashtra govt formation: We are keeping an eye on recent developments. We are meeting now and discussing all the options before us. We have not decided anything yet. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/FYF7ii8ygP

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut: Party chief Uddhav Thackeray ji clearly said today that Chief Minister will be from Shiv Sena. If Uddhav ji has said so, then it means that there will be CM from Shiv Sena, at any cost. (ANI)

Since the BJP, the largest single party in Maharashtra, has declined to form government in the state, and no final word on the purported alliance of Congress-NCP with Shiv Sena, the state may head for President's rule followed by mid-term polls.

Since Shiv Sena not agreeing to Government formation, we have decided not to insult mandate given by people of Maharashtra and so decided not to form Government. Our best wishes to Shiv Sena if they wish to form Government with Congress-NCP: BJP State President Chandrakant Patil.

Declining to form government in the state, the BJP Sunday said it will sit as the opposition in the Assembly as ally Shiv Sena turned down their offer. After meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil called Shiv Sena's conduct as an insult to the people's mandate and said if Sena is interested in forming the government with Congress and NCP, the BJP gives them good wishes. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Maharashtra caretaker Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has left for the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. He is accompanied by a group of BJP leaders.

Reiterating the demand for a Shiv Sena CM in Maharashtra, party chief Uddhav Thackeray Sunday said they have carried the palanquin enough for other people and he will ensure that a Shiv Sainik sits inside the palanquin this time. Thackeray made the remarks after meeting with party MLAs at a resort in Malad on Sunday.

The Shiv Sena has shifted most of its 56 MLAs to a hotel in suburban Malad, apparently to guard them against 'poaching' attempts.

Besides, all 44 Congress MLAs from Maharashtra are at a resort in Jaipur in the party-ruled Rajasthan amid similar fears. (PTI)

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam Sunday said aligning with Shiv Sena to form the government in Maharashtra would be a disastrous move for the Congress. Taking to Twitter, Nirupam said, "In the current political arithmetic in Maharashtra, its just impossible for Congress-NCP to form any govt. For that we need ShivSena. And we must not think of sharing power with ShivSena under any circumstances. That will be a disastrous move for the party."

In the current political arithmetic in Maharashtra, its just impossible for Congress-NCP to form any govt. For that we need ShivSena. And we must not think of sharing power with ShivSena under any circumstances.
That will be a disastrous move for the party.#MaharashtraCrisis

— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) November 10, 2019

After the BJP's core group meeting in Maharashtra today, MLA Sudhir Mungatiwar said the party will meet again at 4 pm to take decision on the Governor's invitation to form the government. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Hotel Retreat in Madh, Malad West to meet party MLAs.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray arrives at Hotel Retreat in Madh, Malad West to meet party MLAs. pic.twitter.com/Vmw9huTOuy

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

A poster which reads 'Maharashtra needs Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena chief) as CM' has been put up outside Matoshree (Thackeray residence), in Mumbai.

Maharashtra: A poster which reads 'Maharashtra needs Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena chief) as CM' has been put up outside Matoshree (Thackeray residence), in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/Ez2UiVb38r

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has left Matoshree Tower to hold a meeting with the party MLAs at a resort in Malad.

All 44 MLAs, including senior leaders like Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat, were staying at the resort in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan amid fear of "poaching" in view of the stalemate over government formation in Maharashtra.

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, meanwhile, today met the party's newly elected MLAs from Maharashtra, who are currently staying at a resort in Jaipur, to discuss the political situation in the state. Kharge, who is the All India Congress Committee's (AICC) generally secretary, met the legislators informally to ascertain their views on what stand the party should take about government formation in Maharashtra, senior congress leader Manikrao Thakare told PTI. "Kharge will then convey the sentiments of the legislators to the party leadership," Thakare said.

Heaping praise on Congress, Sanjay Raut said, “There may be some differences with the Congress on national issues, but we agree on some issues too. Congress is not our enemy… if Congress leaders are positive about supporting the Shiv Sena, the people of Maharashtra will welcome it whole-heartedly.”

“Who is tom-tomming about morality? Those who commit adultery every day, are trying to impart lessons in ethical behaviour. They believe that people’s brains have become paralysed. This is their misconception…," Raut added.

“The politics of Maharashtra should remain in Maharashtra only. Maharashtra is not the slave of Delhi," Sanjay Raut said today.

On posters put up by Sena workers near Thackeray's residence here demanding that he be the chief minister, Raut said, "Uddhav Thackeray is the Shiv Sena leader and he will take an appropriate decision at the right time. He has already said he will make a Shiv Sainik the CM."

On the Shiv Sena's future course of action, Sanjay Raut said, "Let the picture be clear on the first step by governor. The Shiv Sena will declare its strategy if no one else is able to form the government." He said Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be meeting the party MLAs at 12.30 pm on Sunday.

BJP Core Committee member Vinod Tawade arrives at the residence of Devendra Fadnavis.

Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Core Committee member Vinod Tawade arrives at the residence of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/IwI2jmwqpz

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

"The single largest party had to be called. We fail to understand why the BJP did not stake claim in 24 hours (after results) if it was confident that it had the majority," Raut, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha, said.

Sanjay Raut also said the Shiv Sena would declare its next strategy once no one else is able to form government in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said his party welcomes the decision of Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to invite the BJP to form government in the state. "Now, with the governor's intervention, we hope the state will get a government," he said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar and many Congress leaders have communicated to their party chief Sonia Gandhi that their priority is to have a "non-BJP" chief minister in the state, the Rajya Sabha member said in the Marathi publication. "Everyone wants to end the politics of revenge, subservience and playing dirty tricks," Raut said. "Those who used to threaten others with their power are now scared," he said in remarks laced with sarcasm.

Raut said even 15 days after the results were announced, Fadnavis could not take oath as the chief minister. "The BJP's biggest ally Shiv Sena not ready to speak to the outgoing chief minister is the biggest defeat (of the BJP). This time, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will decide the next chief minister of Maharashtra," he said.

In his column 'Rokhthok' in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', Raut said Fadnavis, despite being blessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to become chief minister for the second time, has not been able to assume the top post in Maharashtra. "He could not take oath because BJP chief Amit Shah has remained aloof from developments in the state," Raut said.

Sena MP Sanjay Raut today hit out at Fadnavis and accused him of playing politics of fear, while making a reference to German dictator Adolf Hitler. Without naming Fadnavis, Raut, in a fresh attack on the BJP leader amid the ongoing war of words between the saffron allies, said, "When ways of threatening and seeking political support don't work, it is time to accept that Hitler is dead and the looming clouds of slavery have disappeared."

"Maharashtra’s Governor should invite NCP-Congress - the second largest alliance - to form the government now that BJP-Shivsena have refused to do so," Congress leader Milind Deora tweeted.

Maharashtra’s Governor should invite NCP-Congress - the second largest alliance - to form the government now that BJP-Shivsena have refused to do so

— Milind Deora ?????? ????? (@milinddeora) November 10, 2019

Taking a dig at its ally BJP, Raut today tweeted out a Hindi couplet, saying "people who have recently amassed wealth lose their humility, but people who come from illustrious and wealthy family's remain graceful in handling power and wealth."

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????? ???? ??? ???? ????,
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???????? ???? ??-?? ???

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) November 10, 2019

Sanjay Raut added, "Congress is not the enemy of the state. All parties have differences on some issues." 

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut today said, "Agar koi sarkaar banane ko taiyar nahi hai toh Shiv Sena yeh zimma le sakti hai (The Shiv Sena can take the responsibility if no one is ready to form the government).

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut: Agar koi sarkaar banane ko taiyar nahi hai toh Shiv Sena yeh zimma le sakti hai. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/hYO1HHbuRq

— ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2019

After Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited BJP to indicate its willingness and ability to form the new government, the Congress and NCP also stepped up efforts to prop up a non-BJP government. The Congress, which won 44 seats in the Maharashtra polls, has shifted most of its MLAs to a luxury resort, Buena Vista, in Congress-ruled Rajasthan, after alleging that the BJP had been luring its legislators with money. Caretaker CM Devendra Fadnavis has refuted the allegation.

The NCP leader claimed the party will vote against BJP on the floor of the House. “If Sena votes against BJP, the NCP can then think about initiating the process of setting up an alternate government,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the Governor should ensure that parties do not indulge in horse trading. “The Governor has invited the BJP to stake its claim. This process that has been initiated could have been done earlier as well,” he added.

Insiders in BJP said that since Sena has not withdrawn from the NDA, the possibility of a Sena-BJP government cannot be ruled out. Moreover, Uddhav deciding to meet BJP veteran L K Advani after the Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya is being seen as an attempt by Sena to mend ties, said sources.

Welcoming the move by the Governor, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, “He has done the right thing by inviting the single largest party as per the Constitution… BJP has been saying that it will form the government. So, we hope it does so.”

The BJP won 105 seats in the October 21 elections and its ally Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats. The majority mark in the 288-member Assembly is 145. Fadnavis resigned on Friday as the CM, blaming Sena for rebuffing all attempts to form an alliance government. He rejected Sena’s claims that the BJP had agreed to share the CM’s post in the event of both the parties coming to power in the state. However, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray countered Fadnavis, saying such an arrangement was agreed to by BJP chief Amit Shah ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Confirming that the party is set to meet on Sunday, senior BJP leader and Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “The mandate of people is for mahayuti (grand alliance). Therefore, we don’t rule out the possibility of a BJP-Sena government coming to power.”

According to a statement issued by Raj Bhavan, the Governor has asked caretaker Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the leader of the state BJP legislative party, to “indicate the willingness and ability of his party to form the government”. “Elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly were held on October 21 and the results were declared on October 24. However, despite the passage of 15 days, no single party or alliance of parties has come forward to form the government,” the statement said. It added: “The Governor has therefore decided to explore the possibility of formation of government and today asked the leader of the elected members of the single largest party, that is BJP, to convey its willingness and ability to form the government.”

The BJP core committee will meet on Sunday to decide on the future course of action, the party said, adding that a reply will have to be sent to the Governor within the next 48 hours. Earlier in the day, Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni had met Koshyari at Raj Bhavan, sources said. The term of the state Legislative Assembly came to an end on Saturday midnight.

The BJP core committee will hold a meeting today to discuss the invitation by Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to prove the party’s majority in the Assembly by Monday. Following the 15-day-long impasse with the Shiv Sena over the post of chief minister, the governor on Saturday evening had asked the BJP to “indicate willingness and ability” to form the government.