Maharashtra: Congress-NCP likely to hold meeting over govt formation crisis in Delhi

As per sources, top leaders of the Congress and NCP are likely to meet in the national capital on Wednesday, November 20. The NCP and Congress leaders are expected to discuss a myriad of issues. They are likely to give a final shape to the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of both parties. Sources reveal that as soon as the final draft of the CMP is approved by the high command of both parties, discussions with the Shiv Sena would be held.

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Issues likely to be discussed

The name of their likely alliance if they join hands with the ideologically opposite Shiv Sena to the contours of their tie-up in the coming polls in their meeting scheduled for Wednesday, an NCP leader said. The Congress and the NCP are not comfortable with the name 'Maha Shiv Aghadi' (a grand alliance comprising the Shiv Sena), the leader said. "We don't want the name of any party in the alliance. Even in the NDA and the UPA alliances don't have names of parties," the leader added.

The Congress-NCP alliance is known as 'Aghadi' (front) and the Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI and other smaller parties are known by the term 'Mahayuti' (the grand alliance). 

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The two parties would also discuss whether they would contest the civic body polls with the Shiv Sena if the three parties join hands to form the government in the state. Polls to several civic bodies, including the Birhanmumbai Municipal Corporation, are to be held in 2022. 

Earlier, a meeting with the Congress scheduled on Tuesday, November 19, to further discuss the possibility of government formation in Maharashtra was called off due to the pre-occupation of Congress leaders with Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary events. The Congress leaders had requested that the meeting be postponed to Wednesday. On Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had reportedly asked leaders such as AK Antony, Ahmed Patel, and Mallikarjun Kharge to ensure that a Karnataka-like fiasco does not happen in Maharashtra.  

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The two sides have deputed leaders for holding talks on a possible alliance. According to sources, Mallikarjun Kharge, Ahmed Patel and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal besides some state leaders and Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil of the NCP are to meet to explore the possibility of an alliance with the Shiv Sena in the state. NCP President Sharad Pawar had a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday. Pawar said if the NCP-Congress has to take a view on government formation, they have to first discuss it between themselves.

READ | Cong-NCP Leaders To Meet Soon; Talks With Sena Only After CMP Is Vetted By High Command