Milind Deora pitches for NCP-Congress Maha govt, Shiv Sena backs it

Adding to the 'Maha'-confusion, Congress leader Milind Deora on Sunday, suggested that the governor should invite NCP-Congress to form the next Maharashtra government as the Mahayuti has failed to do so. This suggestion comes a day after the Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited BJP to form the government in the state by Monday. Congress MLAs too are reportedly in favour of supporting Shiv Sena to keep out the BJP from coming to power again.

Congress to stake claim?

READ | Shiv Sena takes 'Hitler' jibe at Fadnavis, says 'Slavery ends in Maha'

Sena backs Congress

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the party is ready to form a government if 'no one is ready to form government', hinting at a Cong-NCP-Sena alliance. He also openly backed the Congress praising senior Congress leaders Sharad Pawar and Yashwant Chavan's contributions. But bizarrely, he also backed a Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra.

"Congress is not the enemy of the State. All parties have differences on some issues. I think, people of Maharashtra will welcome Congress' move of forming a government," he said to ANI.

READ | Fadnavis to form Maharashtra govt, must prove majority by Nov 11

Maha Governor invites BJP

Earlier on Saturday, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari set a two-day deadline for BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis to prove a majority to form a new government in the state. The Governor has called the leader of the single largest party to prove its majority by 8 pm on November 11. However, as per sources, Fadnavis would just have to submit the list of MLAs that support any eventual government, which indicates that there would be no floor test. The majority mark in the house is 145.

WATCH | Fadnavis to form Maharashtra govt, must prove majority by Nov 11

BJP-Sena deadlock

With its MLAs holed up at a Mumbai resort, Shiv Sena has reiterated that it will accept only the 50:50 formula and 2.5 years of CM post, BJP has denied of ever having agreed to such a formula reportedly offering 13 cabinet portfolios to Sena while keeping 26 for its ministers. But Fadnavis has reiterated, 'The next govt will be formed under a BJP CM.' With no respite to the deadlock, Sena has been eyeing to gain support of the NCP-Congress alliance. The BJP too has been gaining Independent MLAs support to fortify its position. The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56), but is yet to put its majority to use. Meanwhile, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress) bagged 98 seats in total.

WATCH | Couldn't form govt despite mandate: Fadnavis hurt as Sena-BJP implode