Congress, NCP want ‘equal treatment’ of migrants, minorities to be on common agenda with Sena

Congress and NCP leaders met Wednesday to work out details of a common minimum programme that will form basis of their alliance with Shiv Sena.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar along with senior Congress leaders Ahmad Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge during a joint press conference at YB Chavan center in Mumbai on 12 November | ANI

Mumbai: The Congress and NCP want “equal treatment” of Maharashtra’s migrant population, Dalits, advisasis and minorities to be a part of the common minimum programme before they agree to tie-up with the Shiv Sena to form the next government in the state.

This was discussed at a meeting of the allies Wednesday evening even as the Congress, sources said, had agreed “in-principle” to join hands with the Shiv Sena.

Sources in the NCP said the process of government formation would start within 20-30 days as hectic discussions are underway to work out the details of the alliance.

“On Tuesday itself, Congress gave an in-principle approval to the alliance. But all this is keeping in mind the common minimum programme. The Congress and NCP have formed committees to draft the final CMP which will be shared with Shiv Sena, and within 20-30 days the process of government formation will begin,” said a senior NCP leader.

“Minorities, migrants, Dalits, adivasis… they will be an integral part of the CMP. Migrants have faced a lot of problem in the past with Shiv Sena, and we are quite clear that they should be treated equally and there cannot be an atmosphere of fear,” the leader added.

A five-member committee of the NCP and Congress, which is deliberating on the CMP, has been directed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar to speed up decision-making so that the parties can move ahead with government formation.

“Numbers will determine who will get what. So far we haven’t discussed portfolios,” a source said.

Pawar is likely to be in Delhi during the weekend to hold talks with Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress leaders, including former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had spoken to Thackeray Tuesday night, during which, a source said, it was decided that the foundation of the alliance would be the common minimum programme.

Sources said Pawar had asked Gandhi if she would consider forming government with the support of the Shiv Sena much before the latter officially decided to part ways with the BJP.

“Mrs Gandhi categorically said no, and it is on the insistence and pressure from the state unit in Maharashtra and the MLAs that she agreed to it. However, even when she had called Pawar sahib, she had mentioned providing outside support. But he was clear that if Congress were to support, it had to be a part of the government,” said another leader.