Sena claims "in-principle" NCP-Cong support, then fails to get letters

Shiv Sena on Monday claimed that NCP and Congress have agreed "in-principle" support to its government without BJP in Maharashtra but failed to get letters of support from political rivals before deline set by Goverr who rejected its plea for three more days to do so. As impasse in government formation entered 18th day and a prospect of President's rule loomed, Congress appeared t wanting to take a hasty decision to align with its ideological rival and decided to hold furr talks with its pre-poll ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on issue of supporting Sena.

Sena failed to stake claim to form a government

Goverr Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Sunday night asked Shiv Sena to "indicate willingness and ability" of party to stake a claim, hours after its pre-poll partner and longtime ally BJP declined to form government. Sena, second-largest party in 288-member House with 56 MLAs after BJP's 105 members, h time till 7.30 pm to stake a claim on a day marked by hectic parleys with its chief Uddhav Thackeray meeting NCP supremo Shar Pawar and having a telephonic conversation with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. NCP has 54 MLAs while Congress has 44.

As Uddhav Thackeray met Pawar at a suburban hotel in Mumbai and Congress corralled its MLAs in a Jaipur resort, Arvind Sawant, lone Sena minister in Union council of ministers submitted his resignation. Putting up a brave front, Sena leer Aitya Thackeray told reporters outside Raj Bhavan in Mumbai that his party's claim on formation of a government still stands, as two parties have agreed "in-principle" to support Sena-led government. He didn't take names of Congress and NCP.

Aitya Thackeray's statement after meeting Goverr

Aitya said Goverr Koshyari refused to grant more time to Sena to muster numbers. "We have initiated talks with two parties. Both parties have expressed ir support in principle to Sena," he said. ding, "We informed Maharashtra goverr about our willingness to stake a claim for government formation. Shiv Sena MLAs have alrey issued ir support in writing," he said. He said two parties (re NCP and Congress) need few more days to complete ir procedures. "Hence we sought time from goverr but he refused to grant it," he ded.

A Raj Bhavan communique said a delegation of Shiv Sena leers expressed ir willingness to form government. However, communique said y could t submit requisite letters of support. Furr, y submitted a letter requesting for three days of extension of deline for submitting letters of support. " Goverr expressed his inability to give any furr extension," communique said.

Congress to have 'furr discussions' with NCP

After two crucial meetings in Delhi, top leers of Congress preferred to have detailed discussions with NCP on current political impasse. " Congress President has spoken to Shar Pawarji. party will have furr discussions with NCP," said a terse statement issued by party general secretary K C Venugopal said. " Congress Working Committee met this morning and held a detailed discussion on situation in Maharashtra after which consultation was held with Maharashtra Congress leers," statement said.

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Arvind Sawant signalled Sena's exit from NDA

Amid a flurry of meetings in Mumbai and in New Delhi, Arvind Sawant signalled his party's exit from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and accused BJP of reneging on its promise for equal division of seats and power and forcing Uddhav Thackeray-led party to snap ties. His resignation came after Pawar said Shiv Sena will have to first snap ties with NDA so his party can take a call on supporting saffron outfit.

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He alleged that BJP was resorting to "lies" by denying agreement reached between leers of two allies before assembly elections. "I have resigned as Union minister. I have sent my resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Sawant said in national capital, displaying his letter resigning as Union Heavy Industries minister.

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NCP has said it will decide on wher to support a Sena-led government in coordination with ally Congress. Congress legislators held a meeting with senior party leers on issue in Jaipur on Sunday and asserted y did t want fresh elections in state, party insiders said. Since Congress MLAs are t keen on fresh elections and want to keep BJP out of power, many favours extending outside support to Sena, y said. "We have always maintained distance from right-wing party which is Shiv Sena. ir internal differences(with BJP) have precipitated situation in Maharashtra," senior Congress leer M M Pallam Raju said.

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