Maharashtra Government Formation Live News Updates
Though the meeting between the Congress and the NCP Wednesday —to work out the modalities for extending support to the Shiv Sena and forming the government in Maharashtra —could not give a final shape to the three-party alliance, sources in the two parties indicated that the three parties were close to an agreement on both power-sharing and a common minimum programme (CMP).
Soon after NCP chief Sharad Pawar injected an element of intrigue into the fluid political situation in Maharashtra when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the latter’s chamber in Parliament, top leaders of both the Congress and NCP expressed confidence that they would form a “stable” government in the state soon.
Asserting that a government will be in place within the next fortnight, these sources, however, indicated that the issue of giving the chief minister’s post to the Sena for a full five-year-term could emerge as a sticking point. The NCP, which has just two MLAs less than the Sena, is said to be in favour of rotational chief ministership. Sources said the Congress is also keen that the word “secular” finds a mention in the CMP.
After a marathon meeting of Congress and NCP leaders, NCP leader Nawab Malik said, “A stable government cannot be formed in Maharashtra without the NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena coming together. We will form the government soon. We discussed all those aspects.”
Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge will be leaving for Mumbai tomorrow for a meeting with Shiv Sena and NCP for discussion over modalities of government formation in Maharashtra, ANI reported.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Chavan also said that a decision will be taken on Friday on the architecture of alliance for Maharashtra government formation. He said when Congress would announce the Common Minimum Programme, it shall disclose the power-sharing formula.
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The Congress and NCP leaders had held a marathon meeting on Wednesday to thrash out details of their alliance as they work to form a new government in the state in tie up with Sena.
Congress' leader Prithviraj Chavan said the meeting with NCP has been concluded and there is "complete unanimity" between the parties on issues. The party will hold discussions with Shiv Sena later in the day, Chavan said.
Congress has scheduled another meeting with other alliance parties on Friday.
A meeting of top Congress and NCP leaders is underway in Nwe Delhi to discuss the contours of the alliance with Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra.
Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Mallikarjun Kharge, and NCP leaders Praful Patel, Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and Nawab Malik are deliberating on key issues like the Common Minimum Programme to forge an alliance for government formation in the state.
-PTI inputs
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel arrives at NCP Chief Sharad Pawar's residence.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena on Thursday targeted the Modi government over Delhi police's "inhuman" lathicharge on JNU students, including those challenged visually, during a protest against hostel fee hike, saying no government should run amok in this manner. The Sena, engaged in talks with Congress and NCP to form a coalition government in Maharashtra, said the ruling BJP would have created a ruckus in Parliament had such action against students been taken during the Grand Old Party's rule.
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam took to Twitter to warn the Congress against joining hands with Shiv Sena. "Years ago in Uttar Pradesh, Congress had made a mistake by tying up with the BSP. Since then, the party has not been able to get up till date. We are committing the same mistake in Maharashtra. Being the third party in the Shiv Sena government is like burying the Congress here. It would be better if the Congress president does not come under pressure," he tweeted.
A new government in Maharashtra should be in place before December and a final decision on it will be taken in a day or two, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Thursday, amid parleys between his party and the Congress-NCP combine. Raut said he will meet NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday. To further discuss the modalities of government formation, another round of meeting among the three parties will be held in Mumbai, he said.
The Congress Working Committee on Thursday reviewed the political scenario in Maharashtra, a day after it held a marathon meeting with the NCP on forming an alliance together with Shiv Sena to form a government in the state. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal told the media after a meeting at party chief Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence that the CWC was briefed on the discussion between NCP and Congress on Wednesday. However, according to PTI, Congress sources said a final decision on Maharashtra is expected by tomorrow.
When asked about Sharad Pawar meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, Raut said that the NCP chief was meeting the PM to discuss issues related to farmers who have been affected by unseasonal rainfall in the state. “I had met (Pawar) two days ago on the same issue. We want him to brief the PM about the financial assistance the farmers need and the difficulties they are facing as Pawar is an expert on the subject. So, nobody should read too much into their meeting,” he added.
Sanjay Raut said, “The picture about the government formation will be clear in a day or two. The government will be formed before first week of December and Shiv Sena’s chief minister will take oath." The Sena leader further said that the government formation would be decided on the basis of issues faced by farmers, labourers and the needs of the infrastructure sector among others. “Now, there are no hurdles in government formation,” said Raut.
Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Maharashtra govt formation: There are many points on which we need clarification if we have to run a government together for 5 years. Discussions are progressing. We will go to Mumbai today.
Congress-NCP meeting again tonight, the final meeting with Shiv Sena on Friday in Mumbai: PTI quoted Congress sources as saying. The decision on Maharashtra will be taken by Friday as the Congress Working Committee (CWC) agrees to go ahead for govt formation with Shiv Sena.
The Congress and the NCP will hold a joint meeting Thursday. The Congress-NCP leaders are scheduled to hold meetings with Shiv Sena in Mumbai on Friday, after which the announcements related to the government formation might be made.
A final decision on the new government in Maharashtra will be taken in the next two days, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Thursday. He told reporters that there there are no plans of any meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray this week. (PTI)
An urgent meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held at party chief Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence in Delhi. Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said the meeting was called at 9:15 am. The Maharashtra political situation along with other important developments was discussed.
The Congress Working Committee held a meeting at 10 Janpath today. talking about the government formation in Maharashtra, party's senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The Congress Working Committee today discussed and decided what steps need to be taken ahead. We will now take steps as decided in the meeting."
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut says, "The process to form the government has started. It will be completed before December 1. All three parties will hold a meeting in Mumbai."
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said the “picture” about government formation would become clear in a day or two and the chief minister from Shiv Sena would take oath before the first week of December. Addressing mediapersons in Delhi, Raut said that BJP, as the single largest party, was not able to form the government and hence, the responsibility of government formation has fallen on other parties in the state. Read More
Welcome to our Maharashtra government formation LIVE blog. The Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena were close to an agreement on both power-sharing and a common minimum programme (CMP). Top leaders of both the Congress and NCP expressed confidence that they would form a “stable” government in the state soon. Follow to get all the latest updates here!