Maharashtra Government Formation: Sonia Gandhi, Sharad Pawar meeting postponed till Monday

Mumbai : The much-needed and awaited meeting between Sharad Pawar and Sonia Gandhi has been postponed till Monday. Speaking about it to a leading daily, a Congress speaker confirmed that the negotiations are on their way and the delay must not be seen as change of mind.

NCP, on the other hand, looks to discuss the issue more among the core committee members. "Pawar Sahab (Party Chief Sharad Pawar) has called a meeting of core committee of NCP leaders at 4 pm in Pune", NCP leader Nawab Malik had said on Saturday.

It has been learned that Pawar will be flying to the National Capital after he concludes the core committee meeting with the leaders in Maharashtra.

Earlier on Friday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had told reporters that Pawar and AICC interim president will sit together on November 17 to discuss the future course of action.

“Congress alone can’t decide things. NCP chief Sharad Pawar and AICC president Sonia Gandhi will sit together on November 17 and discuss the next course of action. They will decide how to solve this problem. After that only the other actions will follow,” Kharge had stated couple of days ago.

The meeting was called after the NCP chief had confirmed that Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will be forming the government in Maharashtra and will be completing the whole Five-year term.

In the recently concluded Assembly polls, Congress and NCP had bagged 54 and 44 seats respectively in 288-member Assembly. As no party came forward to prove majority to form the government in the state, it on Tuesday came under President’s rule after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his approval for the requisite notification.