Amid ongoing discussions between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress over an alliance with the Shiv Sena to form the government in Maharashtra, Congress leader KC Venugopal said on Thursday that the two parties are likely to arrive in Mumbai tomorrow with the verdict. After attending a meeting of the Congress Working Committee at the residence of the party's interim president Sonia Gandhi, Venugopal told media, 'We have informed the CWC members in Maharashtra about the latest political situation. Today, the Congress-NCP discussion will continue on this matter. I think, tomorrow, we will probably give a verdict on government formation in Mumbai.
A meeting was held between NCP and Congress leaders in the capital Delhi on Wednesday. Congress-NCP leaders are scheduled to meet with the Shiv Sena leadership in Mumbai on Friday, after which announcements may be made to form the government. On Wednesday, Congress leaders including Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Mallikarjun Kharge informed the party's interim president Sonia Gandhi about meeting NCP chief Sharad Pawar. After briefing Sonia Gandhi, the three Congress leaders again returned to Pawar's residence.
After failing to form a government in the state, Maharashtra came under President's rule. The BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, could not claim to form the government as its ally Shiv Sena remained adamant on equaling the Chief Minister's post and the cabinet. Shiv Sena is now negotiating with Congress and NCP to form government in the state. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly, followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44 seats.
