NCP responds to 'Sena love'; says 'stay tuned' amid Maha-govt formation

Commenting on their 'blossoming love' NCP Spokesperson Nawab Malik on Saturday, replied to Sena MP Sanjay Raut's tweet on forgetting old wounds with NCP-Congress. Malik quoted Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir stating that 'Why cry at the beginning of love, wait and see what happens' - presumably hinting at troubling times ahead.  Currently, the three party chiefs are deciding on the Common Minimum Programme to form the next government. 

NCP responds with 'love':

READ | Just Like That: Sanjay Raut flaunts newfound Sena-NCP-Cong bond; 'Old Wounds Forgotten'

Sanjay Raut's 'camaraderie' with NCP-Congress

Earlier in the day, hailing Shiv Sena's newfound friendship with NCP-Congress, Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut tweeted that the new season has made him forget old wounds. Quoting Indian poet Bashir Badr, Raut tweeted a couplet expressing his gratitude to the new political scenario which has 'healed' old differences between Sena and the NCP-Congress. The unlikely alliance is set to meet the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at 4:30 PM on Saturday to discuss farmers' issues and the other governance issues.

READ | SCOOP: NCP-Congress want Uddhav Thackeray as Maha CM; Aaditya nowhere

Uddhav for CM

Meanwhile, sources have reported that NCP-Congress has demanded that Uddhav Thackeray be made the face of CM of Maharashtra. While Shiv Sena and NCP have maintained that the CM would be from the saffron party, this is the first time NCP has outright demanded Uddhav be announced. Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar is set to meet Congress Sonia Gandhi on Sunday to finalise the NCP-Cong pact and to discuss the CMP. Congress interim-chief Sonia Gandhi is allegedly unhappy with Maharashtra Congress state leaders for contacting Sena before ironing out a pact with NCP.

READ | Congress raining on NCP-Sena parade? No Maha govt without Sonia nod, says Kharge

Sena to get CM post

Earlier on Friday, sources have reported that the Sena-NCP-Congress alliance has decided on a formula, with the Sena retaining the CM post for all 5 years. Sources further report that the cabinet will be split with Sena getting 16 portfolios, NCP -14 and Congress will get 12 berths. Meanwhile, President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday after Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was satisfied that none of the parties - Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress, and NCP could not form a stable government. The Mahayuti alliance fell out with the  Sena insisting an equal sharing of CM post for 2.5 years and portfolios, while BJP refused to these demands. BJP too has been conducting marathon meetings for the past two days.

READ | Congress calls strategy huddle before Winter session; Maharashtra likely on agenda

Current Maha numbers

The saffron alliance swept Maharashtra on October 24, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). Meanwhile, the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-54, Congress-44) bagged 98 seats in total. The halfway mark is 145.