Sincere About Forming Government, Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress Alliance Will Last Full Five Years Says Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar asserted on Friday (15 November) that the proposed Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government will be formed soon will serve its full five-year term.

While speaking with media persons, he dismissed the possibility of holding mid-term elections in the state, which is now under President's Rule.

"The three parties sincerely want to form a stable and sustaining government with emphasis on development and progress in the state on a Common Minimum Programme," Pawar said.

He added that presently, the three parties are finalising their CMP with a series of discussions and the final roadmap would emerge only after that.

Pawar denied reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was having discussions with the NCP to form the government or there were pressures from some corporate houses in the matter.

"We are only discussing with the Congress, Sena and our other allies. Nothing beyond these representatives of all the three parties have met in Mumbai to finalise the draft CMP," Pawar said.

To question on former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' comments that the upcoming Sena-NCP-Congress government would collapse after six years, Pawar was amused.

"I have known Fadnavis since many years. But I never knew he was also an astrologer. I am reminded of his lines - Mee punha yaeen, Mee punha yaeen, Mee punha yaeen" Pawar remarked amidst laughter.

To a question on whether the Sena would be willing to compromise on its Hindutva credentials vis-a-vis the Congress-NCP's secular ideals, Pawar said that the Congress-NCP always speak of secularism, "that doesn't mean we are against anybody else".

On the power-sharing formula and who will hold the CM's post, Pawar said everything will fall into place once the CMP is finalised and accepted by all the parties.

Political sources say that among the formulae being discussed include the Sena getting the CM's post for full five years, the Congress-NCP getting one Deputy CM, portfolios in the ratio of Sena and NCP 14 each, and Congress 12 plus the post of Legislative Assembly Speaker.

On Sunday, Pawar is likely to meet Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi and brief her on the deliberations with the Sena here and the further course of action.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)