The talks between the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress are progressing at a snail’s pace even as various power-sharing formulas are being discussed among the foes-turned-likely friends. It is learnt that '50-50' sharing of all posts and responsibilities, the formula that led to the breakdown of talks between the BJP and the Sena, could now emerge as the power-sharing arrangement in the new alignment.
A senior NCP leader told THE WEEK that the party wants chief ministership for two-and-a-half years. “We are just two seats less than the Shiv Sena. They have 56 legislators and we have 54. So, there is nothing wrong in expecting rotational chief ministership,” said the leader.
A Congress leader in the know of developments said the national party has agreed to participate in the government formation. The Congress, too, expects equal division of portfolios. Maharashtra can have a cabinet of 43 ministers, including the chief minister, and hence, the idea is that each party gets 14 ministers each. “Sena and NCP can decide about the chief minister, but we want deputy chief minister’s post for the entire term of the government,” said the leader.
In addition to rotating the post of the chief minister, the NCP is keen to have the speaker post in the Legislative Assembly. The Congress, on the other hand, wants the post of the speaker in the Legislative Council.
A Shiv Sena insider, however, pointed out that power-sharing will be finalised only after working out a Common Minimum Programme (CMP). "Our first priority is to sit with the manifestos of both the sides—ours and theirs, pick common points and issues like agrarian distress and farm loan waiver. This will help in quicker formulation of the CMP," he said.
NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik told THE WEEK that Uddhav Thackeray, Balasaheb Thorat (state Congress president) and Jayant Patil (NCP state president) met on Thursday to discuss the CMP. “It has been decided that all the three parties will nominate two senior leaders to formulate the common minimum programme, which will then be taken to Delhi for Congress’s central leadership’s approval. In order to provide a stable government, the CMP is the first priority for us. Power-sharing can come later,” said Malik.
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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that Union home minister Amit Shah had hidden details of power-sharing talks from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Raut also alleged that someone was trying to create a rift between Modi and the Shiv Sena. He said that a discussion took place between Amit Shah and Uddhav Thackeray in the very room of late Balasaheb Thackeray at Matoshree. The details of this discussion have not reached the prime minister. “This room is like a temple for the Shiv Sainiks. Balasaheb used to meet various dignitaries, including Atalji, Advaniji and even Modiji, in the room. It is sad if someone is denying the very discussion that took place in this very room,” Raut is reported to have told journalists in his first media briefing after his angioplasty.
Taking objection to Raut's statement, a senior Congress leader said that statements like these are creating doubt in the mind of Congress leadership. “If you want to discuss with us and take things forward, what is the need to say that we still respect Modi and someone is creating a rift between Sena and Modi,” asked the Congress leader.
