Congress alert on 'Operation Lotus' in Maharashtra, says Prithviraj Chavan

Senior Congress leer Prithviraj Chavan said that party was vigilant to prevent a possible "Operation Lotus"-- attempts by BJP to engineer defections from or parties in Maharashtra amid political uncertainties and imposition of President's rule. According to PTI,   former chief minister of Maharashtra said that BJP was trying to stop Shiv Sena from allying with Congress and NCP. 

"We are alert about `Operation lotus'," Chavan said, as ideologically contrasting parties--Shiv Sena and Congress explore possibilities to form a government in state. Chavan's statement came in reference to BJP leer Narayan Rane's statement on Tuesday that former chief minister Devendra Fnavis h asked Rane to start work on forming a BJP-led government in state. Rane h said he would do "whatever it takes" to ensure his party formed next government.

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Resort politics

Maharashtra Congress MLAs, who h been camping at a resort for last five days amid a political impasse in ir state, left for Mumbai on Wednesday. MLAs were holed up at luxury resort, located close to Delhi-Jaipur national highway amid concerns of horsetring, as Congress remained occupied holding marathon meetings with ally NCP and Shiv Sena pertaining to government formation in state. 

Shiv Sena's newly-elected MLAs have been staying at a suburban resort for last few days. Uddhav Thackeray on vember 12 met his party legislators at resort, where Shiv Sena chief was told that y would abide by whatever decision was taken by him. Thackeray was accompanied by senior leers and his sons Aitya, newly-elected MLA from Worli in central Mumbai, and Tejas.

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On Friday, Republic accessed videos from inside Rangsharda hotel, where Shiv Sena h reportedly placed ir MLAs. Sources told Republic that two buses are parked outside Rangsharda Hotel and y would be shifted to ar place from hotel. move by Shiv Sena came amid Congress' charge of horse-tring against BJP.

As two ideologically contrasting political parties contemplate over an alliance, Uddhav Thackeray held a second meeting with senior Congress leers. meeting involving Sonia Gandhi's aides in Mumbai's Trident Hotel.  After meeting with Congress state chief Balasaheb Thorat, former chief minister of state Ashok Chavan, senior Congress leer Manikrao Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief claimed that talks have started in 'right direction.' 

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(With PTI inputs)