Two days to the deadline for government formation in Maharashtra, a second meeting took place between Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. Before the meeting, the Sena leader doubled down on the party’s demand for the Chief Minister’s post and said no new option would be discussed with ally BJP.
Mr. Raut’s meeting with Sharad Pawar signaled a ramp-up in political activity as Maharashtra stares at the possibility of President’s Rule despite a clear majority for the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance.
The NCP, while insisting that it has won a mandate to sit in opposition, has been key to Sena’s attempts to display numbers in its support.
“Pawar Sahab is a big leader of the nation, of Maharashtra, of everyone. He is also concerned that a government is not forming in the state. There’s instability in the state…He showed that concern in the discussions. We have discussed a little. We’ll think about further conversations later,” Mr. Raut said.
But Sena’s flirtation with the NCP-Congress alliance has hit a wall with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi reportedly ruling out supporting the Sena in a meeting with Mr. Pawar in Delhi on Monday.
Under the circumstances, a meeting between Sonia Gandhi’s top aide Ahmed Patel and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari of the BJP drew much attention, though the Congress leader said nothing political was discussed.
Nitin Gadkari, a senior BJP leader in Maharashtra, has emerged as a possible problem-solver in the standoff.
Over the weekend, Sena leader Kishore Tiwari wrote to Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the BJP’s ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), suggesting that Nitin Gadkari be asked to resolve the crisis.
Earlier today, the Shiv Sena made it clear it was not backing down on the “50:50 formula” which it says was discussed with the BJP for rotational chief ministership and equal distribution of ministries. The BJP has rejected any talk of Devendra Fadnavis, it’s Chief Minister, sharing the post with the Sena.
Yesterday, the party said its door was “open 24 hours” to discuss anything with the Shiv Sena but chief ministership; Devendra Fadnavis would remain Chief Minister and that was non-negotiable, said a BJP leader.
“Our alliance was formed on the basis of an agreement over the chief minister’s post. It was a one-line agreement that was decided before we fought elections together…why waste time talking of a new proposal,” Sanjay Raut questioned, speaking to reporters.
“Talks will only be on the proposal that was already discussed. If there is the President’s Rule in Maharashtra, it will be unfair to the people. We will not be responsible for President’s rule,” Mr. Raut said.
The editorial referred to Mr. Fadnavis’s trip to Delhi to meet with BJP president Amit Shah and Mr. Gadkari.
