Maharashtra: Guv asks Shiv Sena to 'indicate willingness and ability' to form govt

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Sunday asked the leader of elected members of the second-largest party, the Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde to indicate the "willingness and ability" of his party to form the government in Maharashtra.

On Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party's Devendra Fadnavis was called upon to express his willingness and ability to form the government in the state. However, he has shown unwillingness, read a statement.The Governor has, therefore, asked Shinde to convey Shiv Sena's willingness and ability to form the government to him.

Elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly were held on October 21 and the results were declared on October 24. However, despite the passage of 15 days, no single party or alliance of parties has come forward to form the government in the state.

Earlier today, BJP announced that it will not form the government in Maharashtra.

Addressing a press conference after meeting Governor Koshyari, BJP's Maharashtra unit chief Chandrakant Patil said, "We will not form the government in the state."

"BJP, Shiv Sena, RPI, and other parties formed the coalition before the assembly polls. People have given the mandate to our alliance to form the government. And that is why the Governor invited us. But the Shiv Sena has not shown interest in forming the government. So now we will not form the government. We have conveyed this to the Governor," he said.

"This mandate was to work together and if the Shiv Sena wants to disrespect the mandate and form the government with the Congress and the NCP, then they have our good wishes," Patil added.

The party's core committee met twice today to discuss the Governor's invitation to BJP to form the government in the state.

The term of state assembly ended yesterday. The BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the assembly polls winning 105 seats while the Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats.