New Delhi, Nov 12 Hours after the President rule imposed in Maharashtra, the Congress and the NCP on Tuesday announced that that they are in no hurry to form the government and will hold further discussions to get clarity on certain issues. Both the parties also said they will hold discussions with Shiv Sena only after concluding the talks between themselves.
Moments after the Congress-NCP announcement, Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray also said “as the Congress and NCP wanted clarity on some issues, even we wanted clarity on some issues”. Addressing mediapersons at Mumbai, Congress leaders Ahmed Patel, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal, deputed by party president Sonia Gandhi, along with leaders from Maharashtra and NCP chief Sharad Pawar and other leaders, said, “We will discuss on all the issues and then take a decision”.
“A meeting was held between senior leaders of NCP and Congress today. Shiv Sena first contacted us formally on November 11. We will discuss on all the issues and then take a decision”, a joint statement said. Ahmed Patel pointed out that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray contacted Ms Gandhi for support on Monday only and they need to discuss these things with the NCP.
Mr Pawar said they may take three-four days to discuss and to deliberate on a Common Minimum Programme between the parties. It is noted that the Congress and NCP maintained that they are ready to form the government with the Sena, however, need more time for ‘negotiations’. On President’s rule, Mr Patel said, “the way President’s rule was recommended, I condemn it. This government has violated the Supreme Court guidelines on President’s rule on several occasions in the last five years”.
Criticising Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Mr Thackeray said, “after expressing willingness to form the government, we asked for more time because as the Congress and NCP wanted clarity on some issues, even we wanted clarity on some issues. We needed 48 hours, but the Governor didn’t give us time”.
“I didn’t understand the logic behind the governor’s decision, but now we have been given a lot of time to hold talks so we will finalise common minimum programme first,” the Sena chief added. Citing ideological differences with Congress and the NCP, Mr Thackeray said, “if it happened in Jammu and Kashmir between the PDP and BJP, and TDP and BJP in Andhra Pradesh and other states, we are also exploring options here”.
“We have 6 months, will sit down with the Congress and NCP”, he added. Earlier in the day, the Governor recommended to impose President’s rule in the state, citing “government cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution” in Maharashtra, therefore President has given consent to his rule.
