The process to creation of a new government is now all but formalities. Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena confirmed on Wednesday that they shall stake claim to form the new government. Now they are on the way to form a new Grand Alliance comprising ShivSena-NCP and Congress to form the next Maharashtra government with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray expected to be the new Chief Minister.
As per reports, Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya met Sharad Pawar at his Mumbai residence last night. Ajit Pawar of NCP and Sanjay Raut of SS were also present ion the meeting. It is said that the meeting paved the way for future government permutations with the formation of a new alliance termed ‘Maharashtra Vikash Agari’ or Maharashtra Development Front with Uddhav leading the allaince from the front.
In the 288 seat Maharashtra Assembly, BJP got 105 seats, SS got 56, NCP got 54 and Congress 44. Therefore as no single party could form the government by themselves there was political lacunae created which led to eventual President’s Rule. In the meantime there were lot of rumblings about the future state government but eventually with the Congress being open to partner Shiv Sena, which has been their ideological opponent for long, things seemed to have smoothened out. The combined strength of the alliance is 154, which is in excess of the magic figure of 145.