Cong top brass to discuss backing Sena-led govt in Maha today

 The Congress has called a meeting of its top leaders on Monday to deliberate upon offering support to a Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra and its own role in that.

Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut is also likely to meet top Congress leaders in New Delhi on Monday to seek support for his party's government in the state. Top Congress sources said he may visit Interim President Sonia Gandhi, but no meeting has been sought as yet.

Meanwhile Shiv Sena's sole representative in the Union Cabinet, Arvind Sawant has announced his plans to quit the post of Union Minister for Heavy Industries after the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress made it clear that any talks with the Sena will only be initiated if it leaves the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) officially.

Relations between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena are on the verge of collapse following the 18-day deadlock over government formation in Maharashtra.

Late on Sunday, Governor B.S. Koshyari invited the Shiv Sena, the second largest party in the Assembly, to show its willingness and ability to form the government, after the BJP informed it of its inability to do so citing lack of numbers.

The Congress has said that it is watching the developments closely, but has not divulged its plan. The party's MLAs, who are holed up in a Jaipur resort for fear of poaching, are keen to support formation of any non-BJP government in Maharashtra.IANS