The ruckus for government formation in Maharashtra is taking new turns every day with hectic parleys in New Delhi and Mumbai. In the latest development, senior Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said the party is in touch with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for government formation.
This comes a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi while Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Speaking about the developments, Sanjay Raut said the politics of Maharashtra is changing and the next chief minister will be from the Shiv Sena. "In our fight for justice, we will win," Sanjay Raut said.
Sanjay Raut said the decision on Maharashtra's next chief minister will be taken in the state only. He also clarified that NCP president Sharad Pawar "won't be next CM of Maharashtra".
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As per sources, Sanjay Raut said, "I have spoken to Sharad Pawar. I will not lie. It's not a crime (to talk with Pawar). There are other parties too that are in touch with him."
"Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray wants a stable government in Maharashtra. That is why we met Governor and gave him details of what is happening in the state."
Asked about the possibility of NCP president Sharad Pawar to become the next CM, Sanjay Raut said, "He is a big leader of Delhi, why are you bringing him to Maharashtra? It (him becoming CM) is false news."
The BJP and Shiv Sena are locked in a bitter tussle over the issue of chief minister's post, resulting in a stalemate in government formation despite results of the Maharashtra assembly polls on October 24 giving the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance a combined seat strength of 161, way past the 145 majority mark in the 288-member house.
In the assembly polls, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.