Maharashtra: Sena-NCP-Congress Set to Form Govt Soon?

The high voltage political drama over government formation in Maharashtra has been witness to a lot of twists and turns. However, by the evening of November 19, things have become clearer that the talks between these three parties are on track. Congress and Nationalist Congress Party leaders are set to meet on Wednesday evening (November 20) in New Delhi. The meeting will take place between bigwigs of both parties including Ahmed Patel, Prafull Patel, KC Venugopal, Ajit Pawar and others. Reportedly, they will discuss the sharing of portfolios as well as regarding the speaker’s post.

The latest development comes as a relief to the workers of NCP and Congress who were worried after a press conference by NCP chief Sharad Pawar on November 18 had led to speculations that NCP may form an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party. In the press conference, held after an hour-long discussion with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Pawar specifically rejected the talk that both leaders had any discussion regarding government formation. He also denied that there was a Common Minimum Programme in the making. This was despite the fact that just three days before, senior leaders of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress had briefed the media over their finalisation of the draft of CMP.

But, the latest reports say that the discussion with Shiv Sena over sharing of portfolios as well as number of ministries will be held in Mumbai in the coming two days. By the end of this week, these three parties may formally declare their alliance in public.

Also read: Maharashtra Govt Formation Hinges on Pawar-Sonia Sunday Meet

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has called for a meeting with his MLAs on November 22 in Mumbai. As per sources, MLAs have received the message to come prepared for a longer stay, which may extend upto a week. Meanwhile, BJP has also urgently called their MLAs to Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Pawar is also set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday afternoon in Parliament regarding issues of compensation to farmers affected by flood as well as heavy rains. He is going to demand special financial assistance for Maharashtra. Whether there would be any political repercussions of this meet is still to be seen. But Sena MP Sanjay Raut has also said that his party, too, has requested Pawar to meet Modi over farmers’ issues.

With Maharashtra under President’s Rule currently, the process of staking claim to form government will be time consuming. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has already asked parties to come with individual letters of MLAs signed in blue ink as well as signed by respective legislative party leaders for its truthfulness.

Political observers believe that the governor may even ask these parties to hold a parade of the supporting MLAs. Right now, Sena has 56 seats plus independent 8, NCP has 54 and Congress has 44 which adds up to 162. The magic figure in Maharashtra Assembly is 145, which means that the three parties have enough numbers to form the government.

Also read: Co-ordination Committee to be Set up on Functioning of ‘Coalition’ in Maharashtra