AFTER SONIA MEET, PAWAR SAYS CONG, NCP WILL TALK MORE
Uncertainty prevailed over government formation in Maharashtra as the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday decided to consult other members of the pre-poll alliance they had formed in the state on the proposal to join hands with the Shiv Sena to form the next govt.
NEWDELHI: Uncertainty prevailed over government formation in Maharashtra as the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday decided to consult other members of the pre-poll alliance they had formed in the state on the proposal to join hands with the Shiv Sena to form the next government.
The decision to take on board smaller parties such as the Samajwadi Party, Peasants and Workers Party of India and Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana was taken at a meeting between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Monday evening.
“We need to talk to allies that fought elections with us in Maharashtra,” Pawar told reporters after his 50-minute meeting with Sonia. “Those who are with us should be taken into confidence,” he added.
At a news conference, Pawar said he and Sonia did not discuss government formation in Maharashtra. “We discussed in detail the political situation in Maharashtra.
We will keep an eye on the situation. Congress and NCP leaders will hold further talks on the future course of action,” he said. Senior Congress leader AK Antony was also present in the meeting.
The Congress said the two parties will continue to hold discussions on the issue.
“Sharad Pawar met the Congress president today and briefed her on the situation in Maharashtra. It was decided that in a day or two, representatives from NCP and Congress will meet in Delhi to discuss the way forward,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a tweet. Congress and NCP have held a series of meetings to finalise the details of a Sena-led government in Maharashtra.
Ahead of his meeting with Sonia, Pawar said all political parties seeking to stake a claim to forming the government had to “choose their own paths”.
“BJP-SHIV Sena fought together, we (NCP) and Congress fought together. They have to choose their path and we will do our politics,” he told reporters in the Parliament House complex.