'Maha' crisis: Will Congress-NCP support Sena? Sonia Gandhi to decide
What's the story
Shiv Sena has Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's invitation to form the government in Maharashtra, but it doesn't have the numbers. So, it is seeking support from NCP and Congress, the parties against whom it fought elections.
With new opportunity knocking doors, Congress and NCP are busy forming strategies.
And the final decision, NCP boss Sharad Pawar said, will be taken by Sonia Gandhi.
Backstory
A lot happened in Maharashtra: Here's a quick recap
After fighting polls together in the western state, BJP and Sena fell out over the rotational CMship arrangement.
On Sunday, BJP, which was hoping to get another consecutive term for Devendra Fadnavis, said it won't stake a claim.
Afterwards, Koshyari asked Sena, which emerged as the second-largest party with 56 seats, if it had the intent to do the same.
What happened
Subsequently, Sena was asked to dump NDA, its minister resigned
Earlier, NCP said Sena will have to exit NDA if it wants their support.
Thereafter, Union Minister Arvind Sawant, the lone Sena minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet, resigned while saying there's no point staying in Delhi.
On the development which shows how eager Sena is, Pawar said, "Whatever decision is to be taken will be taken only after discussions with the Congress."
Statement
While Congress considers 'options', Nirupam says alliance would be disastrous
Meanwhile, Congress has called for a meeting of its top decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), to discuss the events.
However, Congress' Sanjay Nirupam opined that forming an alliance with Sena will be "disastrous".
Highlighting that Congress-NCP can't run government alone, he said, "We mustn't think of sharing power with Sena under any circumstances. That will be a disastrous move for the party."
Twitter Post
Can we fight polls with Sena, asked rebel Nirupam
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.
— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) November 11, 2019
Can we go to the elections with ShivSena as partner ?
Defense
"If PDP and BJP can join hands, why not us?"
On the other hand, Sena leader Sanjay Raut asked what's the harm in forging a post-poll alliance with NCP-Congress.
He said if BJP can join hands with PDP in J&K, why can't Sena-NCP-Congress be a reality.
Raut also didn't like the fact that BJP got 72 hours to stake a claim, but Sena got 24. The deadline for Sena ends at 7:30 pm.
Quote
Further, Raut asked to look at BJP's "arrogance"
"It's BJP's arrogance that they are refusing to form government in Maharashtra. It is an insult to the people of Maharashtra. They are willing to sit in opposition, but they are reluctant to follow the 50-50 formula, for which they agreed before polls," Raut said.
Twitter Post
After addressing press, Raut arrived at his boss' house
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut arrives at party chief Uddhav Thackeray's residence in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/q4enQZqU0X
— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2019