Mumbai:
Congress working president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday gave her green signal for talks with Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to work out modalities for the formation of the proposed MahaShivAghadi government in Maharashtra. Speaking to News 21.com here on conditions of anonymity a senior Congress legislator disclosed that the Congress has agreed to share the Chief Ministers post for 20 months each with the Sena and NCP, with Sena staking claim to the post first.
Meanwhile, sources in the NCP disclosed that the party has mooted the equal power sharing formula before the Congress. The Congress too has staked claim to 11 cabinet berths.
Earlier, speaking to newspersons senior NCP leader Praful Patel read out the joint Congress-NCP statement. He stated that the Sena for the first time had contacted the Congress and NCP for support on November 11. Before taking important decision there needs to be clarity on all major points. Hence at todays meeting it was decided there need to be talks between the alliance partners (Congress, NCP) and both need to arrive at a consensus.
Congress strategist Ahmed Patel stated that Congress president Sonia Gandhi stressed upon the need for clarity on issues, hence it was our duty to first talk to our alliance partner. He said that there needs to be clarity on common minimum agenda for governance, then talks can be held with the Sena. Replying to queries over the imposition of Presidents Rule, NCP president Sharad Pawar sarcastically remarked that the Governor has now given us six months ample time within which we can hold our talks.
The NCP president stated that unlike the Sena which had an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and NCP had their pre-poll alliance and their joint election manifesto. Both Pawar and Patel clarified that the talks with the Sena have not begun as yet.
Thereafter, speaking to newspersons at Hotel Retreat, Malad West, Sena president referring to the Congress, NCP contention that he spoke to them on November 11, argued that this proves that the BJP claims hollow, that the Sena was not talking to it and on the other hand was hobnobbing with the Congress-NCP. Replying to queries over the Sena petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Governors move to deny them extra time to file letters of support, sarcastically remarked that the Sena was asking for 48 hours extension and the Governor now has been gracious enough to grant us six months time to work out our modalities
Replying to queries, the Sena president stated that he has sought details on how the BJP had worked out alliances with Mehbooba Mufti in Kashmir, with Nitish Kumar in Bihar, Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, speaking to newspersons outside acting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis official residence Varsha, senior BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Sena arch rival, Narayan Rane disclosed that Fadnavis has informed him that the BJP has begun taking steps to form the next government. He argued that the Sena cannot go along with the Congress-NCP alliance for too long.
Even though, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind has given his presidential assent to the proclamation of Presidents Rule in Maharashtra, Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena have continued with their negotiations on forming the next government in the state. As per the provisions of Article 356, the Presidents Rule that will be there for initial six months, the same can be withdrawn provided that a political party or group of political parties are able to show to the Governor that they enjoy the support of majority MLAs and express their willingness and display their ability to form the government.
Former Congress Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde while speaking to newspersons on Tuesday evening stated that imposition of Presidents Rule was not big issue. He argued that the talks with its MahaAghadi partner, the NCP shall continue. Meanwhile, the Sena has decided to file another writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Centers move to impose Presidents Rule in the state.
Meanwhile, in a clarification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that the Governor in his report has not expressly mentioned any concern about horse-trading. His conclusion is based on the fact that no party is in position to form the government and it has been 15 days since the results of the elections, states the MHA clarification.
