File Picture
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Monday and is learnt to have requested the latter to extend his party’s support in forming government, sources said.
According to PTI report, Thackeray and Pawar held parleys at a suburban hotel ahead of the 7.30 pm deadline set by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for the Sena to stake claim for government formation.
During their 45-minute meeting, the two leaders also discussed the ‘common minimum programme’, including the agrarian issue, that will guide the action of their government in case it is formed, the sources said.
The NCP has not yet announced its decision on whether it will support the Shiv Sena, and said it will take a call based on the steps its ally Congress takes.
The Congress’ top leaders will be meeting the Maharashtra party leaders in Delhi at 4 pm to decide which way the party will go amid the deadlock.
The Sena, the second-largest party in the 288-member House with 56 MLAs after the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has 105 members, has time till 7.30 pm to stake claim on government formation.
Union Heavy Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Arvind Sawant announced his decision to quit the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre.
This came after NCP leader Sharad Pawar said the Shiv Sena will have to first sever ties with the NDA for his party to take a call on supporting it.
The Congress has already deliberated on the political situation in Maharastra at a meeting of its Working Committee.
Meanwhile ,Janata Dal (Secular) Chief and Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has said ina report by ANI that If Congress gives support to Shiv Sena, they should not disturb it for next 5 years. Then only people will trust Congress.
