Cong, NCP, Sena continue talks for govt formation

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 12

Even as the Congress attacked Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for committing “a grave travesty of democracy” by recommending President’s rule in the state today, the party continued its discussions with the NCP on government formation modalities.

Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal reached Mumbai today to talk to NCP chief Sharad Pawar about the contours of a potential NCP-Congress coalition with the Sena in support.

The Congress is learnt to have decided to let Pawar negotiate with the Sena, which is learnt to be consistent on its demand for the CM’s post. The Congress, meanwhile, wants terms of any coalition government, including with the NCP, clear besides drafting a common minimum programme.

Power-sharing contours between potential allies NCP, Congress and Sena are unknown as of now and need discussions. The state can have 42 Cabinet ministers, besides the CM. It, however, remains to be seen how NCP negotiates the CM’s post with the Sena and if a 50:50 formula on CM would be evolved between the two.

Signs of advancing discussions between the NCP and the Congress were apparent today with former Home Minister and Maharashtra Congress strongman Sushil Kumar Shinde saying, “The President’s rule will be lifted any time any party expresses willingness to form the government in the state. We are talking to NCP about the matter.”

Meanwhile, the NCP clarified today that while attempts to form an alternative government were underway, no such government was possible without the three parties joining hands for stability.

Maharashtra Congress leaders, on the other hand, rejected insinuations that possibilities of a Sena-led government in the state were shattered because of delay on the Congress’ part last night. “That is not true,” said former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan. He said even NCP’s letter of support to Sena was not ready last night.

Chavan, when asked if Congress had agreed in principle last night to support the Sena, quipped, “Why else would we hold such elaborate discussions in Delhi?”

A Congress source said delay in decision-making was inevitable yesterday because when Sonia Gandhi called up Pawar to have a final discussion on Monday evening, he told her that no formulations had yet been discussed with the Sena.

“No final decision could have been taken in the absence of even the very basic ground work which we were expecting the NCP would have done. That was why a decision was taken that Congress will continue its talks with the NCP,” said a state Congress leader, indicating that power-sharing formula and common minimum programme need prior debate if at all ideologically distant parties have to come together.