Reported By:
| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: Oct 20, 2014, 11:52 PM IST
A day after Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said his party will not lend unsolicited support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in forming the government in Maharashtra, reports are appearing that Sena has agreed to support the BJP.
Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "We extended support to BJP for a stable government, as it was impossible for Congress-NCP to form the government."
The BJP has won 122 seats, with just 23 short of majority. The Shiv Sena won 63 seats, the Congress 42 seats, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 41 seats, and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) just one seat. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) has won three seats, marking a surprising entry into Maharashtra politics.
The elections in the state were being seen as the first major test of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity after the Lok Sabha polls.
The Sena, sources say, is still insisting on deputy chief ministership and rotational chief ministership. But the BJP has sent a clear signal to its allies that it would give priority to addressing the leadership issue before a call on alliances.
Uddhav Thackeray made it clear on Sunday evening that his party will not lend unsolicited support to the BJP in forming the government, saying "let them make the first move". He reportedly called Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to congratulate them on their party's electoral victories in Maharashtra and Haryana.
However, with the BJP way ahead of its rivals but 23 seats short of the magic figure of 145, bitter critic NCP sprang a surprise by extending the crucial "outside support", sparing it the trouble of having to enlist the backing of Shiv Sena in order to form the government, as the two former saffron allies blew hot and cold over coming together once again.
Latest updates:
Congress questions if BJP will ally with 'corrupt party' in Maharashtra: We will wait to see whether the BJP chooses to ally with Nationalist Corrupt Party or a party, which extorts money (hafta) if we trust the words spoken for them by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier," Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala told a press conference.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar: We extended support to BJP for a stable government, as it was impossible for Congress-NCP to form the government. We won't compromise with our fundamentals. We won't compromise with our fundamentals.
We won't compromise with our fundamentals. We offered unconditional external support to #BJP so that #Maharashtra gets a stable government.
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) October 20, 2014
Ajit Pawar elected as the Legislative Party Leader of NCP. Pawar's name was proposed by NCP State President Sunil Tatkare, which was seconded by all party MLAs.
I am not in the race to become Chief Minister and have already mentioned that, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Today all newly elected MLAs are coming to BJP Headquarter, we will fulfill EC formalities and celebrate victory, says Vinod Tawde
Amid speculation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may tie up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form the government in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray is holding a meeting with his party leaders here on Monday to decide on the future course of action.
Bhaiyaji Joshi, RSS : I believe Shiv Sena and BJP should patch up:
No clear mandate, still people blowing victory trumpets: Uddhav Thackeray
A day after BJP emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena today took a swipe at Narendra Modi, saying the "wave" seen during the campaign lost its force even before reaching the shores and expressed doubts over survival of the state amid a hung House.
"Break up of the Sena-BJP alliance and division of votes due to four and five-cornered fights in all seats benefited BJP as well as Congress-NCP. The Sena-BJP split benefited Congress-NCP. Given the Lok Sabha results, both these parties could not have won more than 25 seats together," an editorial in today's issue of Sena's mouthpiece 'Saamana' said.
Subramanian Swamy: Shiv Sena doesnt want to accept this change, adjustments need to be made and we should get back to working together
