Meeting or No meeting? Chavan & Pawar say no, then Cong-NCP pics surface

Amid confusion over the scheduled joint committee meeting of Congress and NCP leaders to work out details of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for the formation of government in Maharashtra, Republic TV has learnt that it has finally taken place in Mumbai on Wednesday. Earlier, former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar contended that the meeting stood cancelled. In fact, Pawar stated that he was heading towards the Baramati constituency. However, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik contradicted this claim and asserted that the meeting would go on as scheduled. In the pictures accessed by Republic TV, leaders such as Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, Nawab Malik, Ashok Chavan, Dhananjay Munde, Vijay Wadettiwar, Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde and Balasaheb Thorat are visible in the meeting.  

Read: Congress Holds Protest March Against Centre's Economic Policies

‘Excellent coordination between the Congress and NCP’ 

Talking to the media a short while earlier, Ashok Chavan expressed hope that his party, the NCP and the Shiv Sena would be able to form the government in Maharashtra. He said that there was excellent coordination between the two allies. Refusing to divulge any details of the discussions with NCP, he mentioned that the Congress meeting took place on Wednesday.  

Read: Congress Tightlipped On NCP & Sena Discussions, Says 'there's No Problem'

Ashok Chavan remarked, "We are yet to discuss a lot of things. Unless we discuss with our ally NCP, I will not be in a position to tell you what is happening. Initially, there was a meeting to be held. but till now there has been no meeting. We will see. If any meeting is called again by the NCP, we will meet. There is excellent coordination between the Congress and NCP. There is no problem.” 

Read: Congress Alert On 'Operation Lotus' In Maharashtra, Says Prithviraj Chavan

Post-poll alliance on the cards?  

Despite the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance securing a comfortable majority in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, they could not form the government owing to a dispute over the Chief Minister’s post. As none of the parties including NCP and Congress could not furnish enough letters of support for government formation, President’s Rule was imposed in the state on Tuesday. Hectic parlays are going on in the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP camps to forge a post-poll alliance for staking claim to provide a stable government in Maharashtra.  

Read: Ashok Chavan: 'Situation In Maharashtra Will Be Clearer In Two Days'