Amid BJP-Sena stalemate, Sharad Pawar says NCP will sit in Opposition

Amid power tussle in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Friday that the people have asked the NCP to sit in the opposition and the party will do that. Pawar's comments come amid talk about the possibility of NDA constituent Shiv Sena forming government in Maharashtra with support from the NCP and the Congress.

Speaking to reporters in Nashik, he also termed as "childish" the tussle between the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena over sharing of the chief minister's post. The BJP and Shiv Sena, which contested the October 21 Maharashtra assembly poll jointly, won 105 and 56 seats respectively. The NCP and Congress have clinched 54 and 44 seats respectively.

Asked about the possibility of the Shiv Sena forming government with the support of the NCP and the Congress, Pawar said there was no discussion in his party in this regard. "We do not have a clear majority. People have asked us to sit in the opposition. We accept that mandate and will take care that we play that role effectively," he said. Referring to the sparring parties, Pawar said, "The people have given them the opportunity (to form government). They must use it. But what is going on now (between them) is childish in my opinion." Any party or alliance seeking to form government will require the support of at least 145 MLAs on the floor of the 288-member state assembly.

Sanjay Raut: 'Shiv Sena can get two-third majority, form stable govt'

Sena meets Sharad Pawar

In a major political development on Thursday, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut met NCP chief Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence, as per sources. Sources further report that the meeting was unofficial and occurred at the same time when a Sena delegation headed by Eknath Shinde- Shiv Sena legislative party chief and Aaditya Thackeray met with the Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at Raj Bhavan. While both parties have allegedly stated that they exchanged Diwali greetings, sources speculate that Sena might be in talks with NCP-Congress about government formation.

READ:Sanjay Raut meets Sharad Pawar after Cong-NCP discuss Sena alliance

Sena's 50-50 formula

A day after the election results were announced, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, outside Uddhav Thackeray's residence Matoshree said that the Chief Ministerial post must be equally divided between BJP and Sena for 2.5 years each. He wanted BJP president Amit Shah to give the assurance in writing and to maintain the 50-50 formula that was sealed before polls. Moreover, Sena has put banners in the Worli constituency from where Aaditya Thackeray won the assembly polls declaring him as the next CM.

READ: Don't compel us to look for alternative, Raut warns ally BJP

Maharashtra poll result

When the poll result was announced on October 24, the saffron alliance swept Maharashtra, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). But the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress)  made a comeback as the NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress too bagged 44 seats. Though the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

(with PTI inputs)

NCP, Congress will sit in opposition, says Ajit Pawar