Congress dashes Shiv Sena's hopes, won't decide on support in time

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday maintained a tight lip over the Congress's reported outside support to any Sena-NCP government. Addressing the media after meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi along with top Maharashtra Congress leaders, Kharge said, "We have already discussed with (Congress) Working Committee members and also with our PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) leaders and other leaders. Our AICC president (Sonia Gandhi) has also spoken to Sharad Pawar Ji and further discussions will take place tomorrow in Mumbai... and beyond this, there is nothing (sic)." Meanwhile, NCP leader Ajit Pawar was on his way to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. NCP is the third-largest party in the 288-seat Assembly.

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Sonia, Pawar speak

Amid the fast-paced political developments in Maharashtra, the Congress has confirmed that it has not yet offered its support to the Shiv Sena to form a government in the state. In a statement released by the All India Congress Committee on Monday, it has said that the Congress Working Committee met this morning and had a detailed discussion on the situation in Maharashtra after which consultation was held with Maharashtra Congress leaders. Congress President Sonia Gandhi has spoken to Sharad Pawar and the party will have "further discussions" with NCP. This came even as news agency PTI quoted Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna saying that the Congress and NCP had sent letters of support to the Shiv Sena.

Earlier, sources had informed that Congress would be extending its support to the Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari earlier invited the Shiv Sena, which has 56 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, to stake claim to form a government by 7.30 pm on Monday, which the Shiv Sena answered and sought more time. After the election result in the state, the Mahayuti alliance partners – BJP and Shiv Sena had a fall out over the post of Chief Minister in the state. While both blamed each other of betraying people's mandate, Congress-NCP had rounds of talks and meetings before finalising the deal. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Uddhav Thackeray on Monday evening.

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