NCP's Nawab Malik talks about Sharad Pawar's meeting with Sonia Gandhi

As the speculation in Maharashtra over who will be the next Chief Minister continues, Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik on November 4, once again reiterated that the Bhartiya Janata Party should form the government. The NCP leader also spoke about Sharad Pawar's meeting with Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. He said, "Sharad Pawar Ji is in Delhi today. He is there to participate in Sonai Gandhi's meeting on the economic slowdown. He will also discuss the situation in Maharashtra. We will only disclose our role when Shiv Sena discloses its role"

Talking about the ongoing tiff between BJP and Shiv Sena, Malik said, "In Maharashtra people have given their mandate to the Bhartiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena. But looking at the current tensed situation between both the parties, BJP leaders are saying that Presidential rule will be imposed in the state if this is the condition we will think about finding a solution. BJP has the majority so Devendra Fadnavis should take the oath as CM and prove the majority in the house. If the BJP fails to prove the majority, then it is our responsibility to form an alternate government. Today our stand is clear that the BJP and Shiv Sena should make the government, we don't want to meddle in any way."

READ | NCP says Sharad Pawar will not be CM, amid Sena-BJP tussle

Ajit Pawar on Sharad Pawar being the Maha CM

Putting the ongoing speculations at rest, NCP leader Ajit Pawar stated on November 3 that there is no question of NCP chief Sharad Pawar to be the CM as BJP-Sena got the mandate. On November 2, Sharad Pawar also had declared that NCP will sit in Opposition and respect people's mandate.

Sena's 50-50 formula

A day after the election results were announced, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, outside Uddhav Thackeray's residence Matoshree said that the Chief Ministerial post must be equally divided between BJP and Sena for 2.5 years each. He wanted BJP president Amit Shah to give the assurance in writing and to maintain the 50-50 formula that was sealed before polls. 

READ | NCP's Nawab Malik: Will seek ways to form Maha govt if BJP-Sena fail

Maharashtra poll result

When the poll result was announced on October 24, the saffron alliance in Maharashtra won a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). In a surprising comeback, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress), Sharad Pawar's NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress won 44 seats. Though the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will form the next government, it was handed a diminished mandate compared to 2014 where it won 185 seats.

READ | NCP supremo Sharad Pawar likely to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

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(With inputs from ANI)