The Congress High Command in Delhi is likely to take a decision on forming a government in Maharashtra in an alliance with the Shiv Sena and the NCP in the next two days, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said on Sunday.
Mr. Chavan, who was in Chennai to attend a couple of meetings, added that NCP chief Sharad Pawar is scheduled to meet Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Monday to discuss the way forward.
“For the Congress it’s a major step [to ally with the Shiv Sena], but considering the people have rejected the BJP, the intention is not to allow that party to form a government through the backdoor and continue their misrule of the past five years,” Mr. Chavan said when asked about the ideological differences between the Shiv Sena and the Congress.
The former Chief Minister said the Congress unit in Maharashtra had informed the high command of looking at the possibility of forming a government with the Shiv Sena and the NCP. “The High Command decision is likely to be taken in a couple of days,” he said adding that ultimately the decision would rest with Ms. Gandhi.
“First there must be an in-principle alliance [between the parties]. We have never supported the Shiv Sena before, though the Sena has supported us on certain issues. The proposal is to look at the principle of who is our main political adversary. If we have to take a decision, we want to take a less difficult choice. That decision will be taken depending on - is it important to stop BJP from forming the government or we should keep quiet and let BJP form the government,” he said.
He also said the three parties had met the Governor to discuss the farmers’ crisis in the State and also to seek an extension of time for the candidates to file their election expenditure reports.
To a question on how soon a government could be formed by the alliance, he said there was no time frame. On whether the Congress and the Shiv Sena could work together and deliver a stable government for the full five-year term, he said: “It’s not a difficult issue. Congress has run coalition in Maharashtra for 15 years for full 5-year terms. We have the experience. But, it’s a new situation…it will be a three-party government, may be a little difficult. But if we want to keep BJP out, and the way BJP has deceived its prepoll ally…it’s a political necessity”.
Mr. Chavan also said the discussions between the two parties on arriving at a common minimum programme based on their election manifestos had not thrown up too many difficult issues that could not be resolved. He also demanded that an FIR be filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rafale scam.
