NCP, Cong, Sena begin govt formation dialogue
Parties discuss CMP that will set the agenda for the govt, power-sharing
MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress on Wednesday began deliberations on a common minimum programme (CMP) to form a government in Maharashtra. The CMP will state the agenda of the proposed government and the power-sharing structure.
The developments came after Maharashtra plunged into a political crisis on Tuesday, with President’s rule imposed in the state following a recommendation by governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. No political party — the Bharatiya Janata Party (105 seats), Shiv Sena (56), NCP (54) and Congress (44) – was in a position to form a government, Koshyari wrote to the central government, preparing the ground for the 288-member House to be placed in “suspended animation”.
The Sena, NCP and the Congress are looking at a common agenda focused on tackling farm crisis and unemployment in the state. The deliberations between the three sides are expected to continue for the next few days before they arrive at a decision to form the government.
The process started with a latenight meeting between Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Tuesday. The two sides deliberated a quick formulation of a CMP, among other things. NCP chief Sharad Pawar met senior party leaders to chalk out the course of action. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar said talks were moving in the right direction.
Meanwhile, the Congress and the Sena decided to let their newly elected MLAs return to their constituencies. Congress MLAs who were in a resort near Jaipur returned to the city on Wednesday. Sena has also told its MLAs lodged at a suburban resort to go back to their constituencies.
SENA-CONG PARLEYS
On Wednesday afternoon, senior
Congress leaders including Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat, former chief minister Ashok Chavan, and former state Congress chief Manikrao Thakre met Thackeray at a Mumbai hotel and outlined the CMP, and discussed their party’s demands.
As Thackeray emerged from his meeting with the Congress leaders on Wednesday afternoon, he said the talks had started and were moving on a positive track. “The talks have started in the right direction. It will be announced to everyone at an appropriate time,” Thackeray told reporters as he stepped out of Hotel Trident in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a Sena functionary, the meeting between Thackeray and Congress leaders was positive and the Congress showed “intent to form the government”.
Thorat said the talks are on the right track and they want them to be finalised at the earliest.
On the other hand, the Congress and the NCP too started deliberations to finalise the CMP.
NCP’s Ajit Pawar said the Congress and NCP being allies will discuss CMP and sharing of important positions between them and then start discussion with the Sena.