Maharashtra Govt Formation: BJP To Adopt A Policy Of 'Wait And Watch' As Impasse Continues

"The BJP core team meeting has concluded. The political situation in the state was discussed in the meeting. On its basis, BJP is taking the stand of 'wait and watch'," said senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar here on Monday.

Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis flanked by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sudhir Mungantiwar (L) and Maharashtra BJP president Chandrakant Patil (R). (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to adopt a stance of “wait and watch” amid the political upheaval in Maharashtra after it was left cornered, as Shiv Sena and the NCP, are making efforts for a non-BJP government with the support of Congress. The party held its core group meeting on Monday to discuss the political situation. "The BJP core team meeting has concluded. The political situation in the state was discussed in the meeting. On its basis, BJP is taking the stand of 'wait and watch'," said senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar here on Monday. On the other hand, senior leaders of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress will meet on Tuesday to mull on the prospects of forming a non-BJP government in the state with the Shiv Sena. "NCP and Congress will have a meeting tomorrow (November 12) to decide about Shiv Sena, many senior leaders from both the parties will be present in tomorrow's meeting," said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Monday. As the impasse in government formation entered the 18th day and the prospect of President's rule loomed, the Congress appeared not wanting to take a hasty decision to align with its ideological rival, and decided to hold further talks with its pre-poll ally Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on the issue of supporting the Sena. The Shiv Sena on Monday claimed that the NCP and Congress have agreed "in-principle" to back its government without the BJP in Maharashtra but failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so. As the 7.30 pm deadline ended for Shiv Sena, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Monday night invited the NCP asking it to express "willingness and ability to form government". State unit NCP president Jayant Patil said the party will discuss the issue with Congress and get back to the governor by 8:30 pm on Tuesday. "As per the procedure, the governor has given us a letter being the third largest party in the state of Maharashtra and therefore, we have suggested to him that we will have to talk to our alliance partner," Patil told reporters. BJP on Sunday expressed inability to form government, after which the Governor had invited Shiv Sena to express willingness and ability to form government.