New Delhi:
After days of stalemate over government formation in Maharashtra, the Congress and the NCP have sorted out the issue of ideological differences with Shiv Sena and only power sharing formula was left to be decided, a highly placed source told News Nation on Wednesday. As per the power-sharing formula being discussed, Maharashtra is likely to have rotational chief ministers from Shiv Sena and NCP while the Congress may get deputy CM's post for full five years.
In the October 21 Maharashtra polls, the BJP-Sena saffron alliance secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats respectively in the 288-member assembly. The Congress and the NCP, pre-poll allies, won 44 and 54 seats respectively. However, failing to evolve a consensus over the chief minister’s post, the Shiv Sena parted ways with the BJP and decided to explore the possibility of tying up with the Congress and the NCP.
After days of delibrations, Sonia Gandhi, who was said to be exteremely warrying about joining Shiv Sena, gave her go ahead. On Wednesday, NCP and Congress leaders held two back to back meetings to finalise the modalities of their alliance with Shiv Sena. After their first meeting, former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said that Congress and NCp will provide a stable government in the state "very soon".
Also Read | Will Provide Stable Government In Maharashtra Very Soon, Say Congress, NCP After Marathon Talks
"Congress-NCP has had long and positive discussions today. Discussions will continue; I am sure we will be able to give a stable govt to Maharashtra very soon," Chavan said. The former Maharashtra CM, however, added that more talks are needed in order to finalise the coalition with Sena.
Senior NCP leader Nawab Malik, who accompanied Chavan at the presser, also said that both NCP and Congress have decided to give a non-BJP government in Maharashtra, adding that they were doing their best to resolve all the issues to provide an alternate government.
"Congress-NCP together decided that we must give an alternate govt in Maharashtra. It is not possible without NCP-Congress-Shiv Sena coming together. We are trying our best to resolve all issues. We will provide alternate govt as soon as possible," Malik was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
