Maharashtra govt formation Updates: Sena leaders celebrate in Parliament premise

Shiv Sena leaders celebrated in Parliament premises on Wednesday, ahead of oath-taking ceremony of Uddhav Thackeray as Maharashtra Chief Minister on 28 November.

The NCP is holding a meeting of all its MLAs at YB Chavan Centre, Mumbai. NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who joined hands with the BJP last week to form government in Maharashtra but quit it later, also attended the meeting, reports PTI.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, two members - Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP) and Devendra Bhuyar (Swabhimani Paksh) - did not take oath on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported quoting a Vidhan Bhavan official. These MLAs could not reach the Assembly.

Two other members - Mahesh Baldi (Independent), Mohammed Ismail (AIMIM)- were administered oath in the Speaker's chamber on Wednesday as they arrived after the House was adjourned, legislature secretary Rajendra Bhagwat told PTI.

Ismail arrived late as he got stuck in traffic, while Baldi, the MLA from Uran, was held up as the ferry boat which he boarded to reach Mumbai from Alibaug, broke down, he said.

Pro tem Speaker Kalidas Kolambkar had taken oath on Tuesday after being appointed to the post by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.

The oath-taking by all except two 288 newly-elected members of Maharashtra assembly, which began a little after 8 am, was completed shortly after noon, with five members reportedly absent. Pro-tem speaker Kalidas Kolambkar administered oath to the MLAs at a special session of the assembly.

Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge met NCP Chief Sharad Pawar's residence in Mumbai

Mumbai: Senior Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge arrive at NCP Chief Sharad Pawar's residence pic.twitter.com/c05lIEYw43

— ANI (@ANI) 27 November 2019

Jayant Patil: "The parties want to ensure all parts of Maharashtra get representation, and uniform development, even the remote parts or underdeveloped part, even Vidharbha, Marathwada. Cabinet composition will be derived accordingly "

Senior NCP leader Jayant Patil, when asked if Ajit Pawar will be inducted in the cabinet, said, "Sharad Pawar, with Uddhav Thackeray will decide who gets ministerial berth. We have invited Sonia Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and CMs of many states for the swearing in ceremony of CM of Maharashtra tomorrow."

Senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse: "My personal opinion is that BJP should not have taken support of Ajit Dada Pawar. He is an accused in the massive irrigation scam and faces many allegations, so we should not have allied with him."

Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena's Worli MLA, talking to reporters, said, " I am feeling very nice. We are committed to making a new Maharashtra. We have to work with all the parties because we have to take Maharashtra forward. There are so many issues ( to solve), it'll be great to get cooperation from everyone.

Asked by reporters if it was a mistake to ally with Ajit Pawar, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "I will say the right thing at the right time, don't worry."

Senior BJP leader, Eknath Khadse said, "Prakash Mehta, Chandrashekhar Bavankule, Vinod Tawde, and I, even if we were not given a ticket, if they (the party) had taken us with them, BJP would get 20-25 seats more. Those who helped this party succeed were left behind, when we toiled to make this party great. It was my right to walk with BJP. I have toiled for 40-42 years."

Ajit Pawar says he will accept whatever decision the party (NCP) takes regarding him.

Earlier, speaking to reporters about his 'return to NCP', Ajit Pawar said, "I have already said that I was with NCP and I am with NCP. Have they expelled me? Have you heard or read this anywhere? I am still with NCP."

Former Maharashtra CM, Congress' Ashok Chavan, when asked how three diverse parties will stay together for five years, said, "Common Minimum Program (CMP) was not finalised in the dark (of the night). It is well thought out. So there is nothing wrong now. The chief minister will be there for 5 years with our support to him and his support to us. This is not about ideology anymore, it is different from that."

Bahujan Vikas Aghadi's Hitendra Thakur said, "BVA is with the party forming government." The party has MLAs in the present assembly.