Even as the deadlock over government formation in Maharashtra continues, reports suggest that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is exploring the possibility of forming a government with the Shiv Sena and indirect support of the Congress. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who was scheduled to be in Delhi on November 4 to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has reportedly advanced his trip by a day.
According to a report by the Hindustan Times, the arrangements involve taking along small parties and independents. The report said Congress would not be a part of the government, though some of its state leaders had said the party should back the Shiv Sena to keep the BJP out of power.
The power tussle between the BJP and the Shiv Sena began soon after the results of the assembly elections were out on October 24, with the national party failing to reach the halfway mark on its own and the Shiv Sena demanding for an equal division of power.
In the polls to the 288-member assembly, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to 2014, while the Sena's tally also came down to 56 seats from 63. The NCP won 54 and the Congress bagged 44 seats.
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No party or alliance has staked claim to form government in Maharashtra yet. The political impasse refuses to die down with Shiv Sena alternately hardening and softening its stand and the BJP playing the waiting game.
On Saturday, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that his party's demand for the chief minister's post was valid, and the basis for power sharing with the BJP must be the pre-poll agreement and not the number of seats won.
"Government has to be formed as per what was agreed on (between the BJP and Shiv Sena before the polls) and not on the basis of which is the single largest party," Raut told a news channel.
Meanwhile, NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said his party would take a "positive view" if the Shiv Sena is ready to form a people's government "as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj" minus the BJP.
Malik said alternatives can be available if the Uddhav Thackeray-led party takes any decision in this regard in the interest of the people.
"The NCP will definitely take a positive view if the Shiv Sena is ready to form the people's government as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, minus the BJP. Alternative will be available if any decision is taken in the interest of the people to form government," Malik tweeted.
With inputs from PTI
