<p>Reiterating that the mandate was to sit in Opposition, the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP are watching the next move of the Shiv Sena after BJP decided not to stake a claim for government formation.</p>.<p>Both NCP and Congress, the MahaAghadi partners, are of the opinion that any form of support or deal is possible if Shiv Sena pulls out of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.</p>.<p>In Jaipur, AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge met the Maharashtra legislators informally.</p>.<p>Two Central observers will be meeting the Congress legislators and leaders.</p>.<p>"We have the public mandate to sit in Opposition and we have accepted it," Kharge said, adding that the Maharashtra unit has left it to the Congress high-command to take a final call.</p>.<p>Congress MLAs including senior leaders like former CMs Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress president Babasaheb Thorat are currently in Jaipur.</p>.<p>Congress leaders have alleged that some legislators were contacted and offered sums between Rs 25 and Rs 50 crore.</p>.<p>In Mumbai, Pawar held a series of meetings including a one-on-one with NCP general secretary and former civil aviation minister Praful Patel.</p>.<p>About reports that the Congress may support Shiv Sena, Pawar said that the Congress has not communicated any such decision. Besides, Shiv Sena, too, has not contacted NCP.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray's aide Sanjay Raut said that Congress was not an enemy of the state.</p>.<p>"If BJP and Shiv Sena could not form the government, the Congress and NCP will try and form an alternative government," NCP Mumbai president and spokesperson Nawab Malik said. </p>.<p>Meanwhile, a senior leader brushed aside suggestions that the Governor could invite 'second-largest alliance" saying that no such provision existed in the Sarkaria Commission.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said in the current political arithmetic in Maharashtra, it's just impossible for Congress-NCP to form any government. "For that, we need Shiv Sena. And we must not think of sharing power with Shiv Sena under any circumstances. That will be a disastrous move for the Congress," he said.</p>
<p>Reiterating that the mandate was to sit in Opposition, the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP are watching the next move of the Shiv Sena after BJP decided not to stake a claim for government formation.</p>.<p>Both NCP and Congress, the MahaAghadi partners, are of the opinion that any form of support or deal is possible if Shiv Sena pulls out of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.</p>.<p>In Jaipur, AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge met the Maharashtra legislators informally.</p>.<p>Two Central observers will be meeting the Congress legislators and leaders.</p>.<p>"We have the public mandate to sit in Opposition and we have accepted it," Kharge said, adding that the Maharashtra unit has left it to the Congress high-command to take a final call.</p>.<p>Congress MLAs including senior leaders like former CMs Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress president Babasaheb Thorat are currently in Jaipur.</p>.<p>Congress leaders have alleged that some legislators were contacted and offered sums between Rs 25 and Rs 50 crore.</p>.<p>In Mumbai, Pawar held a series of meetings including a one-on-one with NCP general secretary and former civil aviation minister Praful Patel.</p>.<p>About reports that the Congress may support Shiv Sena, Pawar said that the Congress has not communicated any such decision. Besides, Shiv Sena, too, has not contacted NCP.</p>.<p>Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray's aide Sanjay Raut said that Congress was not an enemy of the state.</p>.<p>"If BJP and Shiv Sena could not form the government, the Congress and NCP will try and form an alternative government," NCP Mumbai president and spokesperson Nawab Malik said. </p>.<p>Meanwhile, a senior leader brushed aside suggestions that the Governor could invite 'second-largest alliance" saying that no such provision existed in the Sarkaria Commission.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam said in the current political arithmetic in Maharashtra, it's just impossible for Congress-NCP to form any government. "For that, we need Shiv Sena. And we must not think of sharing power with Shiv Sena under any circumstances. That will be a disastrous move for the Congress," he said.</p>
