Sanjay Nirupam says alliance with Sena is embarrassment for Congress

Amid impasse over the government formation in Maharashtra and an ongoing power tussle between BJP- Shiv Sena, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has said that aligning with Sena will be an embarrassment for his party. Claiming that some Congress leader is attempting to seal a deal with Sena, Nirupam while speaking to Republic on Sunday said that there are differences with Sena on a number of issues including Ayodhya land case. His remarks come amidst reports that Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi will discuss the current political situation of the state with NCP chief Sharad Pawar. 

READ: Amid BJP-Sena stalemate, Sharad Pawar says NCP will sit in Opposition 

Sanjay Raut says talks with BJP on CM post

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party will talk to the BJP only on the issue of the chief minister's post. He also claimed that Sena has 170 MLAs supporting them and that the figure can even reach 175. "The impasse continues. There is no discussion on government formation as yet. If talks happen, it will only be on the issue of the chief minister's post," Raut told reporters. 

READ: Shiv Sena attacks BJP for hinting at President's rule in Maharashtra

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. 

WATCH: Sanjay Raut claims that Shiv Sena has numbers to form Maha govt

Maharashtra poll result

When the poll result was announced on October 24, the saffron alliance swept Maharashtra, winning a combined tally of 161 (BJP- 105, Sena -56). But the 'Maha- Agadhi' alliance (NCP-Congress)  made a comeback as the NCP bagged 54 seats while the languishing Congress too bagged 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 says Sharad Pawar will not be CM, amid Sena-BJP tussle