Maharashtra government formation: Sonia, Pawar to meet tomorrow for discussions

Maharashtra slipped into political uncertainty after Sena and BJP, the single largest party, couldn't come to terms over the government formation.

After their relations turned bitter, governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited Sena to form a government. Later, NCP was invited as Sena didn't have the numbers.

With President's rule in the state, pre-poll allies NCP and Congress are thinking to join hands with Sena.

The first step for a Sena-NCP-Congress government in the state was a common minimum program (CMP), whose draft was prepared earlier this week.

With the initial roadblock cleared, all three parties have shifted focus on power-sharing. As per reports, they want the proportionate distribution of important ministerial berths.

Yesterday, Kharge said Congress can't take decisions alone and has to speak with NCP.

To note, Sena won 56 seats, NCP 54, and Congress 44. Arguing that it won just two seats less than Sena, NCP is eyeing home, cooperatives, and finance.

The three parties have decided that for them to run a non-BJP government effortlessly, everyone must be involved.

"Efforts are being made to ensure that no party feels that it has lost out," a source told IE.

Earlier, NCP's Nawab Malik had said Sena will get CM post since the party left its old ally, BJP.

In fact, just yesterday, Pawar said NCP-Congress-Sena will run the state for five years.

"Right now there is a process going on and today or tomorrow the government will be formed. We will ensure that the government is there for five years," he told media.