Singhvi uses choice words for those blaming Congress for Maha deadlock

As Congress remains uncertain over an alliance with the ideologically differing Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, senior party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi has condemned the criticism towards the 'fourth-largest party' for the political chaos in the state. In a tweet, the senior Congress leader took on the people accusing the Congress party of the failure of a government formation in Maharashtra, calling them 'unbelievable and unfathomable.'

In a tweet, Abhishek Singhvi said, "People blaming the fourth largest party for being unable to aid the Maharashtra government formation are just unbelievable and unfathomable."

As of the current scenario, sources informed Republic that the NCP is waiting for their ally, Congress' decision to discuss the future course of government formation in Maharashtra, that has been on a stalemate since the BJP refused to form a government on Sunday and the Shiv Sena failed to stake a claim. With the saffron alliance being torn apart over power tussle, the key to stake power lies in the hands-on the Congress party, who hold 44 seats in the assembly. However, the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has remained largely indecisive over the move and has been conducting marathon meetings. 

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All the parties, including the Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP, and even the BJP remained in a huddle all day over the political situation. Former Maharashtra Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Sushilkumar Shinde, Congress Pradesh chief Balasaheb Thorat and other senior leaders met with Sonia Gandhi in 10 Janpath to decide the course of action on Monday.  Sonia Gandhi even held a telephonic conversation with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar over the unfolding situation. However, with a possible alliance with the Shiv Sena threatens the Congress party's secular tag. 

Former UPA Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday said that Congress has 'nothing to do with the delay.' Shinde, furthermore claimed that there are no more ideological differences with the Shiv Sena. He said, "Congress has nothing to do with the delay. We were alert of the situation and whatever has to be done we will do it with our alliance. There were ideological differences with the Shiv Sena before but now there is smoothness now."

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Meanwhile, NCP senior leader Ajit Pawar had claimed that his party's delay in decision-making is due to the unavailability of the Congress leaders. Earlier, NCP patron Sharad Pawar had stated that he could not meet High Command in Delhi as NCP had called a meeting of all its MLAs. He added that Congress' senior leaders were in Delhi, its MLAs in Jaipur while NCP was in Mumbai. He declared that no government could be formed by NCP alone.

Maharashtra political crisis

In a minute-by-minute changing dynamics of Maharashtra politics, Governor of Maharashtra on Monday night invited the third-largest party - NCP to form the government after BJP and Shiv Sena failed to provide the majority number. Congress leader KC Venugopal on Monday evening said that Congress is still discussing the formation of a government with the NCP and has to extend outer support to the Shiv Sena. This official declaration came even as Shiv Sena reached its deadline of 7.30 PM to form the government in Maharashtra.

In the statement, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that the government of Maharashtra cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution. Hence, the governor had submitted a report as contemplated by the provisions of Art. 356 of the Constitution.

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