A reluctant Congress, which did not make its mind to back an ideologically different party in forming a Government in Maharashtra, got more confused when a day earlier its long time ally NCP chief Sharad Pawar communicated to Congress president Sonia Gandhi that “he (Pawar) will first assess the situation in joining hands with the Shiv Sena and get back to the party”.
This made the grand old party send three top leaders — Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal — to meet Pawar in Mumbai and comprehend the nitty-gritty further. The Congress has been extremely reluctant to back the Shiv Sena, given the severe ideological mismatch and the fact that the two parties fought bitterly as rivals in Mumbai and other parts of the State in the polls.
The leaders were supposed to visit early in the day to Mumbai but their plan deferred after, according to sources in AICC, Pawar conveyed that State leaders of both the parties will first discuss the “terms and conditions” of the Government formation in the State.
Both Sonia and Pawar had spoken earlier where both are believed to have discussed on a “common minimum programme” before giving any word to the Shiv Sena. Pawar also informed the Congress central leadership that he would come to Delhi and finalise details with them during the day. When Pawar expressed his inability to visit the national Capital, the Congress decided to send the leaders to meet Pawar.
Though the meeting remained inconclusive, leaders of the two allies said further discussions would be needed to decide on the issue of Government formation in the State. Congress’ distrust for Shiv Sena apart, it also did not want to go the whole hog on the advice of the NCP chief without plugging all loopholes.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar had stopped short of blaming ally Congress for the “delay” in deciding on whether to support the Shiv Sena in a non-BJP Government in Maharashtra. And sources said his uncle, Sharad Pawar, is upset with the Congress for it.
Congress held off on sending its leaders to Mumbai early morning, asking Pawar to come to Delhi instead and speak to Sonia. But Pawar declined, citing a meeting with his party MLAs, and the two then spoke on the phone.
Earlier, top Congress leader Ahmed Patel also reportedly spoke to Pawar to discuss possibilities of government formation.
“We (NCP) waited for their (Congress) letter. But we did not receive the letter by the evening. It was not right for us to give the letter. Whatever be the decision, there should be stability,” Ajit Pawar told reporters.
“From morning 10 am till 7.30 pm on Monday, our leaders including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel were waiting for their letter. They (Shiv Sena) had to submit the letter till 7.30 pm. If the Congress was not sending its letter of support, how could we give ours,” Ajit Pawar disclosed.
Asked whether he was blaming the Congress for the hold-up, Ajit Pawar replied: “We fought elections together. That’s why we should make the decision together. The Congress is taking its time to decide because it didn’t contest with the Shiv Sena. The Congress and NCP contested together.”