Milind Deora on Maharashtra deadlock says, 'Govern First, Fight Later'

Amid the ongoing power struggle between alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena, Congress leader Milind Deora has slammed the BJP-Sena alliance for not coming to terms to form the government in Maharashtra even as 15 days have passed since the Maharashtra assembly election results were out. Earlier today, Shiv Sena had taken their 56 MLAs to a hotel in a bid to ensure that none of the MLAs defects from the party. The Congress leader took to Twitter to express his anguish and called the horse-trading as "disturbing and unacceptable" due to which the deadlock continues, leading to a delay in the formation of the government.

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Deadlock in Maharashtra government formation

The move by Shiv Sena comes amid Congress' charge of horse-trading against the BJP. Sena has demanded that BJP hold its end of the bargain for the pre-poll coalition to implement the 50:50 formula for power-sharing and for the post of Chief Minister. However, the BJP denies having such an agreement and even put forward Devendra Fadnavis for a second term.

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As per sources, the MLAs will be staying at the hotel for the next two days that are considered very crucial for government formation. They were shifted to the hotel after a meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence 'Matoshree'. Shiv Sena, which fought the election with BJP, is not ready to settle for anything less than an equal share in Cabinet portfolios and the Chief Minster's post for 2.5 years.

As a result of the deadlock, the state is now headed for presidency rule as there is no conclusion over the formation of the government. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has submitted his resignation but will stay as an acting chief minister on the behest of the governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

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