Will consider backing Shiv Sena: Congress

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said that his party would consider supporting Shiv Sena to form the next government in Maharashtra. He said that if the BJP, which is the single largest party, fails to form the government, Shiv Sena should get the next opportunity.

Mr Chavan said, “BJP is the single largest party in the election and has the right to form the government. But after seeing the war of words between two saffron parties, if the BJP fails, Shiv Sena, which is second largest party, will get a chance. If they seek support from the Congress, then it would be certainly considered. We would put the proposal before party high command Sonia Gandhi”

On the other hand, Sena leader Nilam Gorhe refused to comment and said that Mr Thackeray will take a final call about it.

Two days back, Congress Maharashtra state youth wing president Satyajeet Tambe had also suggested that Aaditya Thackeray be made the chief minister. “Hich ti vel (it is the right time),” he wrote in a Facebook post. He also advised MLAs not to wait for the “right age” to become the CM or they would lose the opportunity.

Claiming to be Aaditya’s friend, he wrote, “In politics, time never comes back. So, use the opportunity to become the chief minister. You must get what you want and do not rely on anyone.” Satyajeet also requested, “If anyone will ask you to wait for the right age, do not listen to them.”

The Congress party could win only 44 seats in the Assembly polls — 10 less than the NCP.

Late evening, Mr Chavan along with other Congress leaders — Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan — flew to Delhi to meet party chief Sonia Gandhi. According to sources, the three leaders are meeting Mrs Gandhi after Mr Pawar told them in the morning that they should speak to the Congress high command on the current situation.