It's agreed, Uddhav to head Maha govt: Pawar

Mumbai/New Delhi, November 22

There is consensus in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray should lead the new government in Maharashtra, NCP president Sharad Pawar told the media on Friday. Pawar’s announcement capped a day of hectic meetings between the Congress, NCP and their pre-poll allies and a joint meeting of the three parties later in the day.

Emerging from the marathon meeting, held at Nehru Centre in Worli, Pawar said discussions on other issues were in progress. “The issue of leadership is settled.There is consensus on Uddhav Thackeray leading the new government,” he said. Uddhav told the media that the talks were satisfactory.

Results of the October 21 Assembly polls were declared on October 24 and President’s rule was imposed on November 12 after the Sena snapped its three-decade-long ties with the BJP over the CM’s post and no party came forward to stake claim to forming the next government.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said his party would not side with the BJP, even if offered Lord Indra’s throne.

“The time for offers has lapsed,” he replied when asked about reports that the BJP had agreed to share the CM’s post. Uddhav, earlier in the day, instructed the MLAs to stay together in Mumbai as they could be required any time, a sources said.

Congress and NCP representatives held a meeting with their pre-poll allies, which was attended by leaders of the Samajwadi Party, the two factions of the RPI, Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Paksha, the Peasants and Workers’ Party (PWP), the CPI(M) and the Janata Dal. PTI

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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

“Opportunism is the basis of their alliance. Even if they form government in Maharashtra, it will not last beyond six to eight months”

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Sena to move out MLAs?

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena plans to move its MLAs to a secret location after they formally give their letters of support for a coalition government with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra, say sources. Earlier in the day, the MLAs were moved to Hotel Lalit near the airport amid speculation that they would be flown to Jaipur. They were instructed to carry clothes for five days and their PAN and Aadhaar cards. TNS

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Fresh plea in SC against ‘unholy alliance’

New Delhi: A fresh PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking to restrain the Maharashtra Governor from inviting the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress to form government “against the people’s mandate” and to declare such formation as “unconstitutional”. PTI