SCOOP: NCP-Congress want Uddhav Thackeray as Maha CM; Aaditya nowhere

In a bizarre twist in the Maharashtra govt. the formation, sources have reported on Saturday that now NCP-Congress has demanded that Uddhav Thackeray be made the face of CM of Maharashtra. While Shiv Sena and NCP have maintained that the CM would be from the saffron party, this is the first time NCP has outright demanded Uddhav be announced. Currently, the three party chiefs are deciding on the Common Minimum Programme to form the next government. 

READ | No Aaditya? Now, 'Uddhav as CM' posters outside Matoshree amid impasse

Uddhav for CM

Previously last week, switching from Aaditya to the Sena Supremo, party's supporters had put up a poster outside Matoshree with the demand of making Uddhav Thackeray as the Chief Minister. While the Sena has been demanding the CM post for 2.5 years for newly elected MLA from Worli and Uddhav's son, Aaditya Thackeray, reports suggest that the new demand of making Uddhav as CM was discussed as the Sena chief met MLAs in Hotel Retreat on last Sunday. Uddhav Thackeray is yet to comment on the matter.

READ | Just Like That: Sanjay Raut flaunts newfound Sena-NCP-Cong bond; 'Old Wounds Forgotten'

Pawar to meet Sonia Gandhi

Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is set to meet Congress Sonia Gandhi on Sunday to finalise on the Cong-NCP-Sena's Common Minimum Programme. Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi is allegedly unhappy with Maharashtra Congress state leaders, as per sources. Gandhi, who was in a meeting with senior Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel, KC Venugopal has allegedly expressed her disapproval of state leaders contacting Sena before ironing out a pact with NCP, as per sources. But Pawar, on the other hand, has stated that a Sena-NCP-Congress government will be formed which will run for 5 years, ruling out mid-term elections. Similarly, former CM Devendra Fadnavis has claimed that BJP will form the next govt.

READ | Congress raining on NCP-Sena parade? No Maha govt without Sonia nod, says Kharge

Sena to get CM post

Earlier on Friday, sources have reported that the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance has decided on a formula, with the Sena retaining the CM post for all 5 years. Sources further report that the cabinet will be split with Sena getting 16 portfolios, NCP -14 and Congress will get 12 berths. Meanwhile, President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was satisfied that none of the parties - Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress, and NCP could not form a stable government. The Mahayuti alliance fell out with the  Sena insisting an equal sharing of CM post for 2.5 years and portfolios, while BJP refused to these demands. BJP too has been conducting marathon meetings for the past two days.

READ | Nawab Malik contradicts BJP's claim, says 'BJP encouraging defected leaders'

Current Maha numbers

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). Meanwhile, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-54, Congress-44) bagged 98 seats in total. The halfway mark is 145.