Maharashtra: 'Don't Know About Shiv Sena', Says Sharad Pawar Ahead Of Meeting With Sonia Gandhi

As the impasse over new government formation in Maharashtra continued, NCP chief Sharad Pawar arrived in Delhi to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi. On arriving in Delhi, Pawar made a comment that is sure to have raised many eyebrows in Mumbai. When asked about the proposed alliance between Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, Pawar said that he did not know about Sena and they had their own path to choose.

Arriving in Delhi ahead of his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Pawar said, "BJP-Shiv Sena had an alliance in Maharashtra, they have to choose their path there. NCP had an alliance with Congress, so I am going to meet Sonia today evening."

Talking about his meeting with Sonia Gandhi, he said: "We fought the election with Congress, so I am meeting with Sonia Gandhi at 5pm. BJP and Shiv Sena had an alliance in Maharashtra. Ask BJP what they want to do."

Pawar on Saturday had said the three parties will form government and complete a full term. Hours after his announcement, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had said discussion over government formation would be taken forward at a meeting between Pawar and Gandhi. NCP's senior leaders on Sunday met in Mumbai and discussed government formation.

A meeting between the Congress and Shiv Sena leaders will also take place, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan informed on Sunday. "We will find out if we can go ahead or not," he said.

The Shiv Sena and BJP had contested the Maharashtra Assembly election as allies and won a comfortable majority. On the day of the election results, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had reminded BJP president Amit Shah of his "50:50" promise. The BJP had disagreed and claimed there was no such deal.

ALSO READ: Congress To Challenge Shiv Sena For Mumbai Mayor, Deputy Mayor Posts

After weeks of standoff, the BJP, which was called by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to stake claim, said it didn't have the strength to form government in Maharashtra. On November 12, after no party approached to stake claim, the Governor announced the President's rule.

The Shiv Sena, which had been insisting it had the number to form government without BJP's help, later reached out to the Congress and NCP to stitch a post-poll partnership. The BJP and Shiv Sena have not officially clarified status of their alliance at the centre. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, however, had pulled out its only union minister from the Modi government.