Congress bigwigs summon Maharashtra netas; open to supporting Sena

Amid uncertainty over government formation in Maharashtra, sources on Monday said that the Congress party is ready to support Shiv Sena to form government after meeting its leaders at the core committee meeting. Sources said that Congress in the core committee meeting decided to support NCP and Sena and will now decide on the terms and conditions to seal the deal. However, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, while speaking to media after the meeting said that party will meet its Maharashtra leaders at 4 PM on Monday and take its final decision. Sources said that the meeting will be held to decide whether the party will support the Sena from outside or being an active participant in the alliance. Meanwhile, sources also said that 35 Congress MLAs are ready to support Sena in government formation. The high-level core committee meeting was attended by three former Congres CMs of Maharashtra - Sushil Kumar Shinde, Ashok Chauhan and Prithviraj Chavan.

Kharge while speaking to media said: "CWC finished the meeting and we discussed the political situation. We have called all Maharashtra leaders at 4 PM today. We will meet again and then decide." 

NCP says ready to form govt

After the core committee meeting of his party at YB Chavan centre in Mumbai, Mumbai NCP chief Nawab Malik said that the party will decide only after Congress takes a decision at 4 PM. Earlier in the day, Malik said that the party will make the decision if the governor invites them to form the government. Speaking to news agency ANI, he said that the final decision will be taken after meeting with party leaders and reiterated the condition of Sena's separation from NDA.

"If the governor invites us we will think about what we will do. After discussions, only the final decision will be taken. If Sena wants to come with us then they should first get separate from NDA. We will take decision after discussion only," Malik Said while speaking to ANI. 

READ: BJP tells Maha Guv it won't form govt, dares Sena to go with Cong-NCP

NCP's three conditions for alliance with Sena 

Speaking to Republic TV on Sunday, Mumbai NCP chief Nawab Malik laid out three conditions that needed to be fulfilled before the Sharad Pawar-led party allies with Shiv Sena. He said: "If the governor is calling Shiv Sena, then it has to first announce that they are not in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). They must part from the Bharatiya Janata Party and they must give a proposal (to the NCP) on how they want to go ahead. So until and unless they resign from the Centre, they break relation with the BJP, they sent a proposal to us, no decision can be announced (sic)," said Nawab Malik.

READ: BJP declines to form Maharashtra govt; this is what may happen next

Sena's Arvind Sawant resigns 

Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant has announced on Monday that he is resigning from the Union Government and will hold a press conference at 11 AM. Earlier on Sunday, speaking minutes after BJP's announcement, Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that if Uddhav Thackray has said that there will be Sena CM then there will be Sena CM at any cost. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray met the Sena MLAs in Hotel Retreat where they have been holed up to prevent poaching by other sides in view of political crisis in the state. Both the Mahayuti alliance partners are at loggerheads over the Chief Minister's post in the state.

READ: Nawab Malik: 'NCP may think about govt formation, if guv invites us'

BJP says will not form govt

BJP on Sunday evening met governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and informed the governor that it will not form the government in the state. Addressing a press conference after meeting the governor, BJP leader Chandrakant Patil said that Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena can stake claim to form the government. He said that Sena has betrayed the mandate of the people of Maharashtra.

Announcing BJP's decision that they conveyed to the Maharashtra governor on Sunday evening, Chandrakant Patil said: "In the elections, BJP, RPI, Sena and other parties were given mandate. Yesterday, the governor invited the BJP to form the government. We fought for the alliance, got votes for the alliance. Sena does not want to be part of the alliance. Sena chose to insult the mandate. We won't form the government. We informed the governor. If Sena has to go with NCP, Congress, we wish them good luck."

READ: Cong, NCP should bury differences; decide common minimum program: Raut