‘Have Received Message From Sanjay Raut,’ Ajit Pawar Says Amid Uncertainty In Maharashtra

Earlier in the day, another NCP leader Nawab Malik had hinted at lending support to Sena in Maharashtra saying, "it is up to the Shiv Sena to decide whether it wishes to do politics with respect or wants to face insult as it did in the past five years".

Ajit Pawar (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: As the deadlock over power-sharing in new Maharashtra government continues between the two alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar on Sunday that Sena’s Sanjay Raut has contacted him and he will soon respond to him. This has further fuelled up the speculation of NCP and Sena coming together against the BJP. While speaking to media in Mumbai, he said, "I have received a message from Sanjay Raut a while ago. I was in a meeting so could not respond. This is the first time after elections that he has contacted me, I do not know why he has messaged me. I will call him in a while." Earlier in the day, another NCP leader Nawab Malik had hinted at lending support to Sena in Maharashtra saying, "it is up to the Shiv Sena to decide whether it wishes to do politics with respect or wants to face insult as it did in the past five years". Earlier Sena leader Sanjay Raut had also praised NCP for their performance in the elections. On Sunday morning, Raut had said that Sharad Pawar is a leader of national stature and there is no wrong in discussing the state of affairs in Maharashtra with him. The current term of Maharashtra government ends on November 8. State Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar had earlier said the state might head for the President's rule if the government is not formed before November 7. The BJP emerged as the single largest party by winning 105 seats while the Sena emerged victorious on 56 seats in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly. (With inputs from ANI)