Maharashtra Govt Formation: Pawar In Delhi To Meet Sonia Today; NCP-Congress To Finalise Alliance With Shiv Sena

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik made the announcement Sunday evening after a meeting of the party's core committee at Pawar's residence in Pune.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has arrived in Delhi on Monday and is expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the government formation in Maharashtra.

New Delhi: NCP chief Sharad Pawar has arrived in Delhi on Monday and is expected to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the government formation in Maharashtra. When he arrived at the airport, Pawar said "There is a meeting today," on being asked about his meeting with Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi today. He is likely to hold meeting with Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi at 4pm today in the national capital. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik made the announcement Sunday evening after a meeting of the party's core committee at Pawar's residence in Pune. "Since we fought elections with Congress, we have decided to take any step further after consulting with the Congress. Our leader Sharad Pawar and Congres President Sonia Gandhi will meet tomorrow," Malik had said. Malik said that the core committee was of the view that the current President's rule in Maharashtra should end, and an "alternative government" should be formed. After the Sharad-Sonia meeting, leaders of Congress and NCP will sit down together on Tuesday to discuss the government formation in the state. Watch | Sharad Pawar to meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi The NCP is in talks with its ally Congress for a possible alliance with the Shiv Sena, after the Sena's alliance with the BJP fell apart over the chief minister's post. The Sena reached out to the Congress-NCP combine for support after its alliance with the BJP collapsed. Maharashtra came under President's Rule earlier this week after all the parties failed to form a government in the state. BJP, which emerged as the single largest party, could not stake claim to form a government as its ally Shiv Sena remained firm on rotating the Chief Minister's post and equal sharing of Cabinet berths. Shiv Sena parted its ways with BJP only to explore ways to form a government. It, however, failed to prove the support of the required number of MLAs in the time given by Governor BS Koshyari. The Governor had then invited NCP, the third-largest party, to prove its ability to form the government failing which the President's Rule was imposed in the state on Tuesday. The Shiv Sena is now in parley with the Congress and NCP to form a government in the state. The BJP won 105 seats in the 288-member assembly followed by Shiv Sena 56, NCP 54 and Congress 44.