Earlier this evening, NCP chief Sharad Pawar informed reporters that all the three parties have unanimously decided to make Uddhav Thackeray the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Pawar also said that there is no confusion over who will lead the government and all three allies are on the same page over the issue. "There is unanimity on the name of Uddhav Thackeray for CM post. Now, he must take it up," Pawar said.
Pawar also made it clear that there is no issue over the leadership of the government and other important factors will be resolved by Saturday. "Tomorrow a press conference will be held by the three parties. Discussion are continuing. Tomorrow we will also decide when to approach the Governor," Pawar said adding that the alliance leaders will decide tomorrow when to seek an appointment with Governor BS Koshyari to stake claim.
However, Sena chief Thackeray did not confirm the same in exact words and told reporters that the meeting was fruitful and this is the first time that all three parties have sat together. "We would make an official announcement over the developments at the earliest possible," Thackeray said.
On Thursday and Wednesday, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar held discussions with the several of his party leaders and Congress leaders to discuss the common minimum programme. The Congress and NCP have reached an understanding on the power-sharing formula and backing a Shiv Sena-led "Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (Maharashtra development front)" government in the state.
ABP News had earlier reported that the chief minister's post will be held by the Shiv Sena for full 5 years The Congress and NCP will have the deputy chief minister's post for the entire tenure.
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Under this 16-15-14 formula, Shiv Sena will have a total of 16 ministers, including Chief Minister's position, NCP will get 15 ministerial portfolios, while Congress will be allotted 12 ministries. The formula is based on the number of assembly seats the three parties won in Maharashtra state polls.
After the meeting on Thursday, Sharad Pawar along with his nephew Ajit Pawar flew to Mumbai and held meeting with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackarey and others late in the night.
On November 12, President's rule was imposed in Maharashtra after none of the parties was willing to form government.
In October 21 elections for the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, the BJP won 105 seats while its pre-poll alliance Shiv Sena bagged 56 seats. The Congress and the NCP won 44 and 54 seats respectively in the state.
The 30-year old alliance of the BJP and the Shiv Sena broke after Uddhav Thackarey demanded the rotational chief minister formula, a demand denied by the saffron party.
(With agency inputs)