Sena asked to form govt, Cong tries to cash in; demands posts: Sources

As the political tension has only been increasing in Maharashtra since the election results came out, a new political development reveals that the chief of Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray had a phone conversation with the interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday evening, after the Sena was invited to form a government in the state. Republic TV sources have revealed that the two leaders discussed the possibility of an alliance between the parties in Maharashtra. Additionally, sources also say that the Congress MLAs in Jaipur have told KC Venugopal and Mallikarjun Kharge that they will back the Shiv Sena-NCP government from outside. This comes as the governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari was informed by the BJP that the party would not form a government, consequent to which he invited Shiv Sena, the second-largest party, to stake claim to form government, by 7:30 pm on Monday.   

Congress MLAs' demands

As the party high command is having discussions over the possibility of an alliance, Republic TV's sources also reveal that Congress MLAs currently in Jaipur, have already come up with a set of demands. As per sources, the Congress MLAs will back the Shiv Sena and NCP from outside without joining the alliance; however, they want their MLAs to be a part of the government. Also, they wish to have a deputy Chief Minister from Congress and NCP - both parties. Apart from this, the sources reveal that Congress MLAs also want six cabinet berths from each of the parties. Sources also reveal that the MLAs have reiterated the fact that the party should form the government in Maharashtra for sure. 

Read: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar likely to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

Options left with Shiv Sena

As the BJP has declined to form the government in Maharashtra, the options left with the second-largest party to form government in the state is to ally with both NCP and Congress because the majority halfway mark in the house is 145. NCP has already made its reservations while speaking to Republic TV as the spokesperson of the party Nawab Malik said that Shiv Sena will have to break all its ties with BJP in the Centre if Sena wishes to align with them. On the other hand, the ideologies the Congress and the Shiv Sena differ to a very large extent. 

Read: Uddhav Thackeray happy with SC verdict; says might visit Ayodhya

NCP Spokesperson Nawab Malik on an alliance with Shiv Sena 

Nawab Malik while speaking to Republic TV laid down a few demands by his party before entering any sort of post-poll alliance and forming the government with Shiv Sena. He said, “If the Governor is calling Shiv Sena, then it has to first announce that they are not in the NDA. They must part from the Bharatiya Janata Party and they must give a proposal (to the NCP) on how they want to go ahead. So, until and unless they resign from the Centre, they break relation with the BJP, they sent a proposal to us, no decision can be announced.” 

Read: 'Uddhav Thackeray will take the decision', says Shiv Sena MLA

BJP on not forming the government in Maharashtra 

Addressing a press conference after meeting the Governor, BJP leader Chandrakant Patil declared that they would not form the government in Maharashtra. He said that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena can stake claim to form the government and accused Sena of betraying the mandate of the people of Maharashtra. "In the elections, BJP, RPI, Sena and other parties were given mandate. Yesterday, the governor invited the BJP to form the government. We fought for the alliance, got votes for the alliance. Sena does not want to be part of the alliance. Sena chose to insult the mandate. We won't form the government. We informed the governor. If Sena has to go with NCP, Congress, we wish them good luck." 

Read: Sena invited to form govt, Raut heads to meet Sonia Gandhi: Sources