Next Maha CM will be Sena's, NCP hasn't sought post: Manikrao Thakare

next Maharashtra chief minister will be from Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP has t demanded top post during state-level meetings on government formation, Congress leader Manikrao Thakare said on Friday.

Sources suggested that chief ministerial post may go to Shiv Sena for five years.

Thakare also said that leaders of three parties will sit toger later on Friday to clarify some pending issues and also to decide time to approach Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake claim for forming government.

" chief minister will be from Shiv Sena... NCP did t demand chief minister's post at state-level meetings. Congress, too, did t make any such demand," he said.

He made statement before attending a joint meeting of Congress and NCP with ir pre-poll small allies in Mumbai.

Asked wher chief ministerial post will remain with Shiv Sena for five years, a senior Congress leader said, "It may happen so. Don't think anyone else (or than Shiv Sena) will insist on it (five-year term)."

READ | Sources: Shiv Sena, NCP, INC Aren’t On Same P On Maha Alliance Name; Options Here

Meanwhile, Thakare said Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress are holding ir internal meetings and will decide timing of ir joint meeting later. Congress is also scheduled to elect its legislature party leader later in day.

AICC general secretaries Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal are expected to attend meeting to elect legislature party leader.

A motley alliance of once-rival parties is being stitched in Maharashtra, which has been placed under President's rule since vember 12.

BJP and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena had contested October 21 Maharashtra Assembly polls jointly and won 105 and 56 seats respectively.

However, saffron partners fell out after Sena persisted with its demand for sharing chief minister's post on rotational basis.

w in a bid to form a government, Sena is in talks with NCP and Congress, who have won 54 and 44 seats respectively in 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. 

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