Political leaders kept their fingers on the calculators and conjured up post-poll scenarios to get the magic figure of 145 once the results are announced on October 22.
Ruling coalition partners Congress and NCP today ruled out taking the support of Raj Thackeray's MNS in government formation in Maharashtra, as rival alliances exuded confidence in getting power after today's Assembly polls.
Political leaders kept their fingers on the calculators and conjured up post-poll scenarios to get the magic figure of 145 once the results are announced on October 22 with independents and small parties likely to play a crucial role.
NCP supremo and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said his party would not seek the support of MNS to form a government in the state.
Pawar, who expressed confidence that Congress-NCP Democratic Front (DF) would return to power, said this when asked whether he agreed his nephew Ajit Pawar that his party was not "allergic" to MNS and will not mind seeking its support in government formation if need be.
"I am the party president and views are final," he said but at the same time sent a mixed signal when he said Raj was more charismatic than his cousin and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav.
In New Delhi, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh dismissed any possibility of having truck with MNS in government formation saying there is "no question" of it. The party is however open to taking support of independents or small parties of the loosely formed secular front there, he said.
"No question. No relationship will be established with Raj Thackeray nor is there any such relationship now," said Singh, who is the AICC general secretary and party coordinator for Maharashtra.
83-year-old Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray said "Shivshahi (Sena-BJP government) will come to power in the state." BJP state president Nitin Gadkari also voiced optimism that Sena-BJP will regain power.
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