Sonia Gandhi dials NCP's Pawar informs him of outside support to govt

Sonia Gandhi called the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and informed him that the Congress will support the Shiv Sena-NCP government from outside. This comes as the Shiv Sena has to claim before 7:30 on Monday. The party has been invited by the governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshiyari to prove its majority.  

Republic TV sources informed that the Congress party will not be part of the Shiv Sena government. BJP, which was the party with the largest numbers of votes was first invited by the governor to stake its claim on Sunday. However, after the meeting with the governor, BJP with 105 seats declared that they will not form the government in the state amid power tussle with their saffron ally. The alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP split as the Sena was adamant of the 50:50 formula in the state cabinet whereas, BJP denied promising anything of this sort to the party.  

Read: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar likely to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi

Read: Cong MP writes letter to Sonia Gandhi, says 'can form govt with Sena'

Arvind Swant quits from the Centre 

Earlier, on Monday, the Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai South and the cabinet minister at the Centre Arvind Sawant also submitted his resignation, demitting his office. This confirmed the split between Sena and BJP from the Centre as well. Arvind Sawant later said that "Our alliance in the state is dead and a new government is going to be formed. In such a situation, for me to continue in my post is not moral or appropriate. Hence, I have tendered my resignation to Prime Minister Modi," he said. On being asked if the Shiv Sena has separated from the NDA at the Centre, he added, "As I have already submitted my resignation to PM Modi, you can understand what it means”.  

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

Read: Sena invited to form govt, Raut heads to meet Sonia Gandhi: Sources

Read: Hooda: Sonia Gandhi happy with our performance in Haryana elections