The Maharashtra political circus is far from over after BJP declared to withdraw from the government formation race. The Shiv Sena, whose insistence on the CM post caused the BJP-Sena pre-poll alliance to stumble and break has been reportedly approaching the Congress and NCP to bury differences and come together to form government in Maharashtra.
Some media reports have started claiming that the Sena might propose Uddhav and not Aditya Thackeray for the CM post for an alliance with Congress and NCP.
Read: Maharashtra: BJP to not stake claim to form government, asks Shiv Sena to go ahead if it could
As per the latest reports, while Congress’ Milind Deora and Prithviraj Chavan are in favour of an alliance with Sena, but the Congress central leadership is undecided. As per reports, Congress leaders and key members of the CWC, including Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal and Ahmed Patel are meeting party president Sonia Gandhi at her residence.
Sharad Pawar has stated to media that no decision has been taken on whether to partner with the Sena or not.
NCP senior leaders Praful Patel, Supriya Sule and Ajit Pawar are currently meeting with party chief Sharad Pawar to discuss issues.
Earlier today, Shiv Sena’s lone minister in the central government, Aravind Sawant had resigned from his post. Sena, being the second-largest party in the elections, was asked by Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to stake a claim by today evening.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has also reached at the Thackeray residence ‘Matoshree’ to meet party chief Uddhav Thackeray. Last night, Raut had insisted that even if Sena forms an alliance with Congress and NCP, they will only have Chief Minister from the Sena ‘at any cost’.
In the meanwhile, Congress’ Maharashtra leader Sanjay Nirupam seems to be apprehensive over an alliance with the Shiv Sena. Nirupam has asked that can the Congress consider contesting future elections with Sena as an ally?
No matter who forms govt and how ? But the political instability in Maharashtra can not be ruled out now. Get ready for early elections. It may take place in 2020.
Can we go to the elections with ShivSena as partner ?— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) November 11, 2019
The majority mark in Maharashtra’s assmebly in 145. The BJP currently holds 105 MLAs. Shiv Sena has 56, NCP has 54 and the Congress has 44. BVA has 3 MLAs and AIMIM, PJP, SP have 2 each. There are 13 independent MLAs.
If Shiv Sena plans to stake a claim, it will need the support of both NCP and Congress. With the Sena’s insistence on CM post, it is remaining to be seen whether an alliance, if Congress and NCP both agree, holds on to power or goes down the Karnataka way sooner than expected.
