Maharashtra govt formation LIVE: Key Congress, NCP meeting under way

Maharashtra government formation LIVE updates: NCP and Shiv Sena leaders said that the political impasse in the state would end today.

Maharashtra's wait for a government continues since the assembly elections, which were held a month ago, in spite of frantic talks involving all four probable stakeholders of power - Bharatiya Janta Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena and the Congress party.

The coveted chief minister's post is the bone of contention between the former allies - Shiv Sena and BJP and the probable NCP-Congress-Sena alliance.

On Thursday, the grand old party held the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet at Sonia Gandhi's residence. According to Congress sources, the CWC has given its go-ahead to the deal to forge an alliance with the BJP's pre-poll ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly were held on October 21 and were fought by two alliances - BJP-Shiv Sena and Congress-NCP. The BJP-Shiv Sena coalition comfortably crossed the majority mark. However, the saffron parties severed ties with each other. Arithmetically speaking, no party in Maharashtra had the ability to form a government without the help of any other. As none of the political parties succeeded in getting the numbers, Maharashtra governor imposed President's rule on the state.

3:02 PM

Modalities over Maharashtra govt formation in final stages between Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena

Modalities have been finalised on the formation of the government in Maharashtra between the Congress, Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and all the three parties have, in principle, agreed upon ministerial berths according to their strength in the assembly, sources said on Thursday.

 

The Common Minimum Programme (CMP) between Congress and NCP has been sealed and will be discussed with the Shiv Sena in Mumbai on Friday, sources added.

2:53 PM

A key meeting of top Congress and NCP leaders is under way here to discuss contours of the alliance with Shiv Sena

A key meeting of top Congress and NCP leaders is under way here to discuss contours of the alliance with Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra.

 

Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Mallikarjun Kharge, and NCP leaders Praful Patel, Supriya Sule, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and Nawab Malik are deliberating on key issues like the Common Minimum Programme to forge an alliance for government formation in the state.

2:35 PM

Sonia Gandhi takes safe route of CWC on tie-up with Shiv Sena

Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi has taken a safe route to arrive on key political decision on forming government in Maharashtra. Sonia called a meeting of congress highest decision making body (CWC) where she was apprised of the political equation evolved during the consultation process. CWC gave in-principal nod to the alliance in the state where Congress is facing a tough issue of ideology.

 

As tie-up with Sena is contrary to the Congress ideology, many leaders of the party have red flagged an alliance with the hindutva force.

 

Sonia took a go ahead from the CWC to avoid any blame that may be directed to her in future, as party is apprehensive of Sena tantrums, said a leader.

 

This is not the first time Sonia has taken confidence of the CWC before sending the three emissaries to Mumbai. Sonia had called a meeting of CWC on November 11, when Maharashtra state leaders were called to decide on alliance.

1:12 PM

NCP leaders meet ahead of joint meeting with Congress

A key meeting of NCP leaders is underway to discuss the modalities of an alliance with the Shiv Sena for government formation in Maharashtra, party sources said.

 

In a separate meeting, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) reviewed the political scenario in Maharashtra, a day after it held a marathon meeting with the Nationalist Congress Party on forming an alliance together with Shiv Sena to form a government in the state.

1:11 PM

Joining Shiv Sena-led govt a big mistake, says Congress leader

Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday said it would be a "mistake" on the part of his party if it joins the Shiv Sena-led government being planned in Maharashtra, as it would be akin to "burying" the Grand Old Party in the state.

 

The former MP also cautioned Congress chief Sonia Gandhi against coming under pressure in this regard.

 

To drive home his point, Nirupam said the Congress had committed a mistake of joining hands with the BSP in Uttar Pradesh years ago, but ended up losing ground in such a manner that it has still not recovered.

 

The Congress and NCP are at present working out modalities of forming a government with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra to keep the BJP, the single largest party with 105 MLAs, away from power in the state.

 

12:43 PM

CWC discusses Maha situation, final decision to be announced Friday

 

 

The Congress Working Committee on Thursday granted in-principle approval to the party to form government in Maharashtra along with the NCP and the Shiv Sena, sources said.

 

In a meeting chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her 10, Janpath residence here, the party's highest decision-making body also deliberated on the Maharashtra political scenario, they said.

 

After the meeting, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal told the media that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) was briefed on the party's discussions with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Wednesday.

 

Congress sources said the final decision on the government formation in Maharashtra is expected by Friday.

 

"The CWC has broadly agreed to go ahead with government formation with the Shiv Sena and the NCP," the source said.

 

"Another meeting between the Congress and the NCP is to happen on Thursday night and a final meeting with Shiv Sena will happen on Friday in Mumbai. The decision on government formation in Maharashtra will be announced in Mumbai on Friday," the source said.

12:17 PM

Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Maharashtra govt formation: There are many points on which we need clarification if we have to run a government together for 5 years. Discussions are progressing. We will go to Mumbai today.

10:51 AM

Congress-NCP meeting again tonight, final meeting with Shiv Sena on Friday in Mumbai: Congress sources after CWC meeting. 

10:50 AM

Decision on Maharashtra by Friday; CWC agrees to go ahead for govt formation with Shiv Sena: Cong sources

10:25 AM

Maharashtra govt LIVE updates: Today, Congress-NCP discussion will continue, says KC Venugopal

Congress leader KC Venugopal on CWC meeting: We have apprised the CWC members of the latest political situation in Maharashtra. Today, Congress-NCP discussion will continue. I think, tomorrow, we will probably have a decision in Mumbai.

10:10 AM

Maharashtra govt LIVE updates: CWC has decided what steps need to be taken ahead, says Mallikarjun Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress on Maharashtra govt formation: The Congress Working Committee today discussed and decided what steps need to be taken ahead. We will now take steps as decided in the meeting.

10:09 AM

Maharashtra govt LIVE updates: Final decision on Maha govt in 2 days, says Sanjay Raut

A final decision on the new government in Maharashtra will be taken in the next two days, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Thursday.

 

He told reporters that there there are no plans of any meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray this week.

10:07 AM

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena: The process to form government has started. It will be completed before December 1. All three parties will hold meeting in Mumbai

9:59 AM

Urgent Congress meeting under way at Sonia Gandhi's residence

An urgent meeting of the Congress Working Committee is being held at party chief Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence in Delhi.

 

Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said the meeting was called at 9:15am.

 

The Maharashtra political situation along with other important developments are expected to be discussed.

9:48 AM

Maharashtra govt LIVE updates: Shiv Sena, NCP to share CM post for 2.5 years each

The chief minister's post in Maharashtra is most likely to be on a rotational basis, with the first half of the five-year term to be given to the Shiv Sena and the latter to the Nationalist Congress Party, NCP sources said.

 

The Congress is likely to have the deputy chief minister's post for the full term, they said.