Maharashtra drama Yet another scene unfolds

Mumbai: High drama is being witnessed in Maharashtra as Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has now invited Sharad Pawar-led NCP to stake claim to form government after Shiv Sena failed to submit a letter of support from the NCP and Congress within 7:30 pm.

The Governor's decision came after Uddhav Thackeray's son Aditya Thackeray sought three more days to prove majority. However, the Governor rejected their demand.

NCP leader Jayant Patil, who met the Governor at 8.30 pm on Monday, told the reporters: "As per the procedure, the Governor has given us the letter (to stake claim to form govt) being the third largest party in Maharashtra. We suggested him that we'll have to talk to our allies, and we'll get back to him as early as possible. Deadline is 8.30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday)."

In the 288-member House, the Sena with 56 MLAs is the second largest bloc after the BJP (105). The NCP and the Congress each has 54 and 44 MLAs, respectively. The halfway mark is 145.

On Sunday, the BJP declined to form a government for want of requisite numbers in the wake of the Sena refusing to join its oldest ally. The Shiv Sena on Monday evening claimed that the Congress and the NCP have sent it crucial letters extending their support to prop up a government in Maharashtra which will be headed by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. However, just five minutes before the 7:30 pm deadline, the Congress issued a statement saying that it will speak to the NCP on the matter.

Earlier, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray held a conversation with Congress's interim president Sonia Gandhi over phone for five minutes. Uddhav along with two other leaders of his party was at Ahmed Patel's residence when the two leaders had a talk, sources said, adding that however the Congress to take a call.

As 7:30 pm deadline approaches for Shiv Sena to stake claim for government formation, party MP Sanjay Raut has been admitted to Lilavati Hospital. On the other hand, in the national capital, the Congress has begun its second meeting, with the grand old party deciding to go into wait and watch mode on supporting Uddhav Thackeray-led party's bid to form the government.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar met in Mumbai and decided to wait for the Congress to come to a decision. The Congress, after a meeting of its core committee, said that the final decision on extending support to the Sena will be taken by the state leadership after a meeting called at 4pm. Sharad Pawar's NCP said their decision will be taken together with the Congress as the suspense over government formation continues.

Sources have said that the Sena has floated the proposal to give deputy CM posts to the NCP and the Congress to take their support, but a final decision is yet to be made. The BJP's oldest ally of 30 years, the Sena, on Monday said it is breaking all ties with the party as it looks to form the government with the support of the NCP and the Congress.