Maharashtra government formation: Sonia, Pawar to meet tomorrow for discussions
What's the story
In Maharashtra, President's Rule was imposed on Tuesday giving time to politicians to explore their options. And to do the same, or perhaps seal the deal with Shiv Sena, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi will meet on Sunday. This development was confirmed by senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday. Read on for more details.
Crisis
Backstory: After assembly results, Maharashtra's politics took unsavoury turn
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.
CMP
CMP done, the focus has shifted to power-sharing
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.
Quote
Next course of action to be decided tomorrow: Kharge
"NCP chief Sharad Pawar and AICC president Sonia Gandhi will sit together on 17 November and discuss the next course of action. They will decide how to solve this problem. After that, other actions will follow," Kharge told ANI.
Arrangement
So, who will get how many berths?
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.
Statement
Earlier, NCP leader said Sena will get CM chair
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.