Election result: BJP-Shiv Sena backroom talks on over govt formation in Maharashtra
Shiv Sena is bargaining hard in return of their support for the saffron wing. Sena wants Deputy CM, Home, Finance and PWD ministry portfolios.
It will be a day of intense parleys in both the BJP and the Shiv Sena camps as deliberations to form the next governments in Maharashtra and Haryana started a day after the Sunday verdict.
In Maharashtra, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in Maharashtra with 123 seats, 22 short of a simple majority in the 288-member Assembly. The Shiv Sena, which has been sending reconciliatory gestures to its former partner of 25 years since Sunday, won 63 seats.
A resurgent BJP, however, is keeping the Shiv Sena waiting, refusing to respond to the Sena overtures so far. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray called PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah on Sunday evening to break the ice between them since their acrimonious split last month.
Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar-led NCP, which won 41 seats in Maharashtra and offered unconditional support to the BJP, is also holding a meeting of its MLAs in Mumbai.
In Haryana, the BJP's meeting to appoint the next chief minister will be held on Tuesday.
10.30 pm: Congress leaders review political situation in Maharashtra
After a crushing defeat in Maharashtra assembly elections, state Congress leaders met in Mumbai on Monday to review the political situation.
The meeting held at Gandhi Bhavan, the Congress party's office in South Mumbai, was attended by Maharashtra state unit Congress chief Manikrao Thakre, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, senior leaders like Narayan Rane, Sushilkumar Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Balasaheb Thorat, Hussain Dalwai and Sharad Ranpise, Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan.
9.15 pm: BJP-Shiv Sena backroom talks on over govt formation
Reports suggest that backroom talks are on between Shiv Sena and the BJP over government formation in the state. Shiv Sena is bargaining hard in return of their support for the saffron wing. Sena wants Deputy CM, Home, Finance and PWD ministry portfolios.
8.00 pm: BJP keeps Sena in suspense, Fadnavis front-runner for CM post
BJP appears to have decided to keep Shiv Sena in suspense while going ahead with government-formation with the unconditional backing of NCP as Devendra Fadnavis emerged the front-runner in Maharashtra and Manohar Lal Khattar in Haryana for the post of chief minister.
6.00 pm: Nitish questions BJP euphoria, reminds them of Congress fate in 80s
Senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar on Monday criticised BJP for its euphoria over the victory in Haryana and Maharashtra and said Congress got over 400 seats in 1984 Lok Sabha polls but their downfall came within five years.
05.15 PM: BJP meets to select next Haryana chief minister.
03:25 PM: Don't want to be a part of govt in Maharashtra. Will only provide outside support to BJP: NCP Cheif Sharad Pawar.
03:24 PM: NCP chief Sharad Pawar defends decision, says wants a stable government in Maharashtra.
03: 07 PM: Rest of the decisions will be taken after Diwali: Ajit Pawar, NCP.
03:05 PM: Our workers have done a great job, we will work to our best efforts and play a crucial role in the assembly: Ajit Pawar, NCP.
02:57 PM: BJP's Devendra Fadnavis, Vinod Tawde, Om Mathur gather at party's Mumbai office.
2:48 PM:
Om Mathur,BJP:There is no problem,BJP will form Govt in Maha,leaders will be here by tonight,selection of the leader will be done by tonight ANI (@ANI_news) October 20, 2014
2:41 PM:
Meeting of MLAs to be held tomorrow in Chandigarh. Decision on Haryana CM will be taken : Jagdish Mukhi, BJP
2:13 PM: NCP chief Sharad Pawar along with leders like Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar and Nawab Malik reach office.
2:08 PM: NCP leaders Ajit pawar, Praful Patel and Supriya Sule are already in the office.
02:05 PM: Meeting of NCP MLAs will take place at 2 pm.
01:23 PM: Party leadership will decide who Haryana CM will be and party members will follow that person: Rao Inderjit Singh
01:22 PM: I have already mentioned that I am not in the Maharashtra CM race: Nitin Gadkari
01:14 PM: RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi: Final call on Maharashtra alliance will be taken by BJP.
01:02 PM: BJP chief Amit Shah reaches Nitin Gadkari's residence.
12:58 PM: Whoever the central leadership picks that person will be CM: Krishan Pal Gurjar on Haryana CM candidate.
Whoever the central leadership picks that person will be CM: Krishan Pal Gurjar on Haryana CM candidate pic.twitter.com/vD8F2LOFTs ANI (@ANI_news) October 20, 2014
12:55 PM: When date and time for meeting observers is decided the MLAs will be invited: Vinod Tawde, BJP
12:54 PM: BJP and Shiv Sena's MLAs will meet today, says Vinod Tawde.
Today all newly elected MLAs are coming to BJP HQ, we will fulfill EC formalities and celebrate victory: Vinod Tawde pic.twitter.com/alOouLbc1N ANI (@ANI_news) October 20, 2014
12:45 PM: Uddhav Thackeray reaches Shiv Sena Bhawan.
12:41 PM: Praful Patel must have some other pressures on him: Sandeep Dikshit on NCP offering support to BJP.
12:40 PM: An informal meeting underway at Rao Indrajeet's house at 6 lodhi road. 11 Mlas from Haryana are there.