Maharashtra govt formation highlights: Guv invites NCP; Impasse continues

Maharashtra government formation LIVE updates: In Maharashtra election 2019, BJP bagged 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and the Congress party managed to bag 44 seats in the 288-member Assembly

9:00 PM

Nawab Malik, Nationalist Congress Party: We will get the letter today and make a final decision by tomorrow after holding discussions with our ally Congress

9:00 PM

8:59 PM

Guv calls NCP to for govt

We have been called by the Governor, a delegation of our party is meeting him now. We've been called to form the govt. As per the letter given by the Governor we'll hold discussions with Congress & see how a stable govt can be provided to the state.

8:46 PM

NCP leaders to meet Guv

Ajit Pawar, NCP: At 8:30 pm the Governor called us and asked me to come to meet him. Along with Chhagan Bhujbal, Jayant Patil and others, I am going to meet him. We have no idea as to why did he call us. Governor is an important person so we are going to meet him

8:43 PM

Had in-principle support but Guv refused more time to Sena: Aaditya

The Shiv Sena on Monday night suffered a setback in its efforts to cobble up a non-BJP government in Maharashtra with the Congress at the last moment announcing its decision to hold more talks with ally NCP on supporting the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

 

Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said "two parties" (read the Congress and the NCP) have agreed "in-principle" to support the party-led government, but the governor refused additional time sought by his party to muster numbers.

 

Putting up a brave front, Aaditya said the Sena's claim on formation of a government still stands.

 

"We have initiated talks with two parties. Both the parties have expressed their in-principle support to the Sena," he said without taking names of the Congress and the NCP.

 

"We informed the governor about our willingness to stake a claim for government formation. Shiv Sena MLAs have already issued their support in written," Aaditya added.

 

He said the two parties need a few more days to complete their procedures, "hence we sought time from the governor but he refused to grant it." 

8:26 PM

8:16 PM

Guv refused more time to Sena to form government: Aaditya

The Shiv Sena suffered a setback in its efforts to cobble up a non-BJP government in Maharashtra with the Congress at the last moment announcing its decision for holding more talks with the NCP on supporting the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

 

Putting up a brave front, Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray told reporters outside Raj Bhavan here on Monday night that his party's claim on formation of a government still stands, as the two parties have agreed "in-principle" to support the Sena-led government.

 

He didn't take names of the Congress and the NCP.

 

Aaditya claimed that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari refused to grant more time to the Sena to muster numbers.

 

"We have initiated talks with two parties. Both the parties have expressed their support in-principle to the Sena," he said.

 

"We informed the Maharashtra governor about our willingness to stake a claim for government formation. Shiv Sena MLAs have already issued their support in written," he said.

 

He said the two parties (read NCP and Congress) need few more days to complete their procedures. "Hence we sought time from the governor but he refused to grant it," he added.

8:08 PM

8:08 PM

7:50 PM

Cong to hold further talks with ally NCP

The Congress on Monday decided to hold further talks with ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on whether to support the Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra.

 

"The Congress President has spoken to Sharad Pawarji. The party will have further discussions with the NCP," a statement issued by party general secretary K C Venugopal said.

 

After two crucial meetings, the top leaders of the party preferred to have detailed discussions with the NCP on the current political impasse in the state.

 

"The Congress Working Committee met this morning and held a detailed discussion on the situation in Maharashtra after which a consultation was held with Maharashtra Congress leaders," the statement said.

7:42 PM

We have shown willingness to the governor to stake a claim. The governor has rejected the 48-hour extension we asked, however, our willingness claim still stands: Aaditya Thackeray

7:38 PM

Shiv Sena seeks extension from Governor

7:34 PM

7:17 PM

6:41 PM

Sena leaders on way to Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form govt

Shiv Sena leaders Eknath Shinde and Aaditya Thackeray are on way to Raj Bhavan where they are expected to stake claim to form government in Maharashtra after meeting Governor B S Koshyari on Monday evening.

 

Sources in the Sena said, "As per the governor's invitation to express our willingness and ability to form the government issued to us yesterday, we are responding to it positively." 

 

"We will seek time from the governor to prove majority in the house," said a Sena leader.

 

Shinde has been elected as the leader of the Sena's legislative wing. Aaditya Thackeray, son of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, was elected from Worli in Central Mumbai in the last month's assembly polls.

6:37 PM

6:24 PM

Congress to give out-side support to Shiv Sena: Sources

Congress will not be a part of the government: Sources

6:06 PM

BJP keeps close watch as Sena races against time to form govt

A day after it declined to form a government in Maharashtra for want of numbers, the BJP is keenly following Monday's political developments which saw its estranged ally Shiv Sena racing against time to enlist support of the NCP and the Congress.

 

The clock is ticking for the Uddhav Thackeray-led party which has time till 7:30 pm to "indicate the willingness and ability" of the party to form government, as directed by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

 

 

As the Sena has limited options, the BJP held a couple of rounds of meetings on its political strategy which would be largely dependent upon the outcome of the meeting of Sena leaders with the governor.

 

Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the party would comment on the political developments, if required, only after 7:30 pm, the deadline given by the governor to the Sena.

5:50 PM

Congress holds second meeting on supporting Shiv Sena

Top Congress leaders, former Maharashtra chief ministers Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde as well as state unit chief Balasaheb Thorat met party president Sonia Gandhi on Monday evening to decide on whether or not to support the Shiv Sena in forming a government in the state.

 

Earlier in the morning, all senior members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) met at Gandhi's residence. However, the meeting was inconclusive and the party leadership decided to meet again at 4 pm, amid indications that the legislators were not in favour of fresh elections in the state. 

 

Senior leaders A K Antony, Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge, K C Venugopal also attended the meeting in the evening.

 

The Sena is the second largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP (105). Given the stalemate between the two alliance partners, the role of the Congress with its 44 legislators and the Nationalist Congress Party with 54 MLAs is crucial. The Shiv Sena has time till 7.30 pm on Monday to stake claim.

5:35 PM

Shiv Sena quits from NDA

5:22 PM

5:17 PM

Backing Shiv Sena not an easy decision for Congress

Aligning with the Shiv Sena to form an alternative government in Maharashtra is not likely to be an easy decision for the Congress as the two parties are "not like-minded" or "ideologically aligned".

 

Sources said the Congress in the past has been reluctant to have any truck with the Shiv Sena but a change in circumstances, in which BJP has refused to form government in Maharashtra, may evoke a change of stance from the party.

 

Shiv Sena Minister Arvind Sawant has resigned from the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a section of Congress MLAs are keen to be a part of the non-BJP alternative in Maharashtra.

 

For years, Shiv Sena has been the BJP's oldest ally and also one of its vocal critics. The party had been taking potshots at the Central government during its previous tenure and had even boycotted the no-confidence motion against the government in July last year.

5:05 PM

4:49 PM

Jaipur resorts hosting new Maha Cong MLA creates buzz among locals

A resort in the Rajasthan capital has become one of the centres of power play amid efforts to form the government in Maharashtra.

 

Since Friday evening, the new Congress MLAs are holed up at the resort on Delhi Road near here while party leaders discuss whether to support the Shiv Sena claim to power in Maharashtra.

 

With the MLAs staying in the resort at Pili Ki Talai area in Amer near Jaipur, many senior Congress leaders from Rajasthan, including Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, have been frequently visiting the resort to gauge the MLA's mood.

4:20 PM

Sanjay Raut complains of chest pain, hospitalised

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was on Monday admitted to Lilavati Hospital here after he complained of chest pain, an official at the hospital said.

 

Raut, who has been speaking to the media daily on his party's stand on the current political situation in Maharashtra, came to the hospital around 3.30 pm.

 

 

"Raut visited the Lilavati Hospital after he complained for slight chest pain. He is being treated by Dr Jaleel Parkar," the official said.

 

"Raut came to the hospital two days back also for a routine check-up. An ECG (electrocardiogram test) was then done followed by some check-ups. Based on the ECG report, doctors advised him to come to the hospital today for further tests," he said.

4:20 PM

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik interacts with media persons after party's core committee meeting, in Mumbai. Photo: PTI

4:09 PM

Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister and Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant displays his resignation from the cabinet during a press conference, in New Delhi. Photo: PTI

3:58 PM

Arvind Sawant on situation in Maharashtra

"Mahayuti government could not be formed. There are talks about Shiv Sena forming government with other parties. It would not be right to continue as Union Minister so I resigned. There should be a government which will work for people of Maharashtra. Farmers are going through a lot of problems due to rains. The new government should be formed as soon as possible," he told ANI.

3:55 PM

Aaditya Thackeray has potential, is visionary leader: Arvind Sawant

Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant, who resigned from Modi government on Monday after his party started efforts to form a non-BJP alternative in Maharashtra, has said that party's young face Aaditya Thackeray has "potential" and "is a visionary leader" but did not speak about his role in the emerging political combination in the state.

 

"Aaditya Thackeray has potential. Go to YouTube and check by yourself. What a potential that young boy is having. There is true leadership. He is a visionary leader of the country," Sawant told ANI when asked about the current political situation in the state.

3:52 PM

Shiv Sena, the second largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the BJP's 105 members, has time till 7.30 pm to stake claim on government formation.