Amid Power Tussle, BJP Confident Of Forming Government In Maharashtra With 119 MLAs

Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil on Thursday said that his party will form the next government in the state with 119 MLAs. Speaking to the reporters, Patil further added that Devendra Fadnavis has expressed this confidence before party leaders. "We're committed to give a stable government to state. There can't be a government in Maharashtra without BJP," Chandrakant Patil told reporters. 

Earlier, there were reports that have suggested that the Shiv Sena will get a full-term chief minister while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress will get one deputy chief minister each in the next government, under the agreement reached by the three non-BJP parties in Maharashtra. According to sources, the common minimum programme (CMP) for the formation of the new government has been agreed. According to the formula, Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will get 16, 14, and 12 ministers in the cabinet, respectively.

The official declaration of the agreement in Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress is expected to be made on November 17 - the death anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.  

According to sources, NCP is expected to get the Home Ministry while someone from Congress will be made the Speaker. Congress is also expected to get the revenue ministry under this formula. The common minimum programme is expected to focus on farmer loan waivers, crop insurance, employment and memorials for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and BR Ambedkar.

Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress leaders are set to meet Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday at 3 PM. While there is no official confirmation of the agenda of the meeting, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that it was meeting to discuss farmer issues.

Malik also reportedly told ANI that the CM will be from Shiv Sena. However, NCP leader Sharad Pawar did not confirm it saying, "If somebody demands CM post we will think about it". Speaking on the issue of government formation, Pawar said, "The process to form government has begun, the government will run for full 5 years." Pawar is expected to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday.

President's Rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday after the Governor informed the Centre that a stable government couldn't be formed in the prevailing situation despite his efforts.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena won a combined majority in last month's assembly election, but couldn't see eye to eye on the idea that the chief minister's job should be subject to a rotational policy. The impasse continued when individual parties were invited to try and form administrations, and President's Rule was imposed.