Madhya Pradesh political crisis LIVE: Scindia quits Cong, 19 MLAs follow

A faction led by Jyotiraditya Scindia who, along with at least 17 legislators, went incommunicado, sparking intense speculation about the fate of Kamal Nath-led Congressgovernment.
Senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia along with 19 MLAs on Tuesday resigned from the party. The development came after the disgruntled leader and former MP from Guna in Madhya Pradesh met with the top two of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi — in New Delhi.
In a surprise move, all 20 Cabinet ministers in the Madhya Pradesh government had tendered their resignations to Chief Minister Kamal Nath at around 11:30 pm Monday, plunging the state's Congress government into a political uncertainty. The CM accepted their resignations and was likely to reconstitute the Cabinet today.
Earlier in the day, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi met current president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the political crisis in Madhya Pradesh after several MLAs close to Scindia flew to Bengaluru and went incommunicado. A legislative party meeting of the Congress is taking place in Bhopal.
A few days ago, it had been alleged that the BJP, the principal Opposition in the state, was holding at least eight Madhya Pradesh MLAs against their will at a resort in Gurugram and in Bengaluru.
In the 2018 Assembly election, the Congress, which had won 114 seats in the 230-member House, had formed the government with support from four Independent MLAs and two BSP MLAs, and a legislator from the Samajwadi Party (SP). The BJP had secured 109 seats in the state Assembly.
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03:09 PM
Kamal Nath writes to MP Governor, recommends the immediate removal of six ministers
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Chief Minister Kamal Nath writes to Madhya Pradesh Governor, recommends the immediate removal of six ministers.
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03:07 PM
Madhya Pradesh government: Know the numbers
Here's how the numbers stack up if the Congress MLAs exit from the Madhya Pradesh government.
Total assembly size

227

Current strength

120 MLAs with Kamal Nath government
Majority mark: 116
Margin: 4 above majority mark
Composition: 114 Congress, 6 allies

Without 20 Congress MLAs

Majority mark comes down to 104

Total MLAs falls to 207
Congress: 100
BJP: 107
02:58 PM
Not surprised that Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from Congress & will join BJP: Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh
Former Foreign Minister Natwar Singh: I am not surprised that Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from Congress & will join BJP. I feel he will be sent to Rajya Sabha & inducted into Union Cabinet. His father Madhavrao Scindia would have been Prime Minister if he had lived.
02:57 PM
Most of the Congress MLAs will resign from the Congress in coming days as they are fed up with the functioning of Kamal Nath govt
Bisahu Lal Sahu: I have resigned from the Congress as well as from the membership of State Assembly. I have joined BJP. Most of the Congress MLAs will resign from the Congress in coming days as they are fed up with the functioning of Kamal Nath govt
02:18 PM
Jyotiraditya Scindia leaves from his residence
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Delhi: Jyotiraditya Scindia leaves from his residence. He had met PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah earlier today and had tendered his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi
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02:17 PM
The government is not going to fall, says Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria
Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria after meeting Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath: State govt is strong and it will continue to run. The government is not going to fall because someone is saying so. We have required number of MLAs.
02:02 PM
Congress' youth wing chief thanks Sonia Gandhi for expelling Jyotiraditya Scindia
Indian Youth Congress (IYC) chief Srinivas B V on Tuesday slammed Jyotiraditya Scindia, who has announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, and thanked party chief Sonia Gandhi for expelling the former Guna MP "who was promoting anti-party activities and factionalism".

Soon after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Tuesday, disgruntled Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia tendered his resignation to party president Sonia Gandhi, saying it was now time for him to move on.

"The history of 1857 and 1967 was once again repeated," Srinivas B V said, referring to the 1857 Revolt against East India Company and the role of the Scindia royals back then as well as Vijayaraje Scindia's switch from the Congress to the Jana Sangh in 1967.

"I would like to thank Congress president Sonia Gandhiji for taking the strong steps to expel the leader who was promoting anti-party activities and factionalism," the IYC chief said.

"No person is, nor will be greater than the party," he added.
01:59 PM
MP political crisis: Digvijaya Singh, other Congress leaders meet Kamal Nath
Amid an ongoing political crisis in Madhya Pradesh, Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh, Jitu Patwari, Bala Bachchan, Sajjan Singh Verma, Surendra Singh Baghel and others arrived at Chief Minister Kamal Nath's residence here on Tuesday.

The meeting came even as senior Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the party, stating that "it is time to move on."

"Having been a primary member of the Congress Party for the last 18 years. it is now time for me to move on. I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know this is a path that has been drawing itself out over the last year," said Scindia in his resignation letter submitted to Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
01:26 PM
19 Congress MLAs including six state ministers from Madhya Pradesh who are in Bengaluru, tender their resignation from party
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01:13 PM
Shivraj Singh Chouhan: For some Congress leaders when Scindia was in Congress he was a Maharaja, now he is a mafia?
Shivraj Singh Chouhan: For some Congress leaders when Scindia ji was in Congress he was a Maharaja, now he is a mafia? These are their double standards.
01:02 PM
Our govt in Madhya Pradesh won't survive, says Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary
Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, Congress leader in Lok Sabha: So yes it will indeed be a loss to our party and I don't think our Govt in Madhya Pradesh will survive. This is the present-day politics of BJP, always tries to topple and destabilize opposition govts.

01:01 PM
Maybe Scindia got lured by the offer of ministership given by Modi: Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary
Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary, Congress leader in Lok Sabha: Scindia ji held many senior posts in Congress party and was well respected, maybe he got lured by the offer of ministership given by Modi. We know his family has been associated with BJP for decades, but yet it is a big loss.

Congress sees Rahul Gandhi only as sole contender for party president post

Amid concerns in the party over leadership issue and calls for elections to the top post, the CongressThursday said Rahul Gandhi was a clear successor for party president's post to his mother and incumbent Sonia Gandhi.
Congress sources said Rahul was the only contender in the race for the president's post because the entire rank and file of the party want him to lead, hinting that elections in that case may not even be necessary.

With differing voices emerging within the party over the leadership issue, a senior Congress leader claimed that Rahul has acceptability across the country and also the capability to lead the party.
There is also speculation that Rahul may be elevated to the top post in the proposed plenary session of the Congress slated sometime in April.
Sources in the party said that the session may be slated after the budget session of Parliament and a major section within the party wants Rahul to be installed as party president again.
Congress leaders Sandeep Dikshit and Shashi Tharoor have made calls for fresh elections for the party's top post to infuse fresh vigour in the party.
Asked about the remarks made by these leaders, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress working committee has decided on the Congress president.
"If anyone has any doubts about this, he should kindly read the resolution of the CWC before giving any statements in public and they will gain some knowledge," he told reporters when asked about Tharoor.
On Dikshit's statement, Surjewala said though he has not read it but if Dikshit and leaders like him work hard in their own parliamentary constituencies the Congress will surely emerge victorious.
"I have not seen Dikshit's remarks, but one must realise when the leaders contest themselves they should understand why they lost elections and how much votes they got.
"Instead of giving statements on social media and interviews in the media, if Sandeep Dikshit works hard in his own constituency and politically encash the work initiated during Sheila Dikshit's rule, the Congress will emerge victorious. It is my appeal to every leader like Dikshit that instead of giving knowledge to the entire country, they should first show the benefits of their own work done in their constituencies," he said.
While Dikshit has demanded that there should be fresh elections to the top post in the Congress respecting Rahul's decision of resigning and not having a Gandhi as the next Congress president, his remarks has been supported by Tharoor.
"What Sandeep Dikshit said openly is what dozens of party leaders from across the country are saying privately, including many with responsible positions in the party. I renew my appeal to CWC to hold leadership elections to energise workers and inspire voters," he said.

PM, FM have absolutely no idea what to do next on economy: Rahul Gandhi

Congressleader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the state of the economy, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have no idea what to do next.
The former Congress president's attack on the government comes just days ahead of the budget.

Finance Minister Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for the financial year 2020-21 on February 1.
"Modi and his dream team of economic advisors have literally turned the economy around. Earlier: GDP: 7.5%, Inflation: 3.5%. Now:GDP: 3.5, Inflation: 7.5%," Gandhi said in a tweet.
"The PM and FM have absolutely no idea what to do next," he tweeted with the hashtag 'Budget 2020'.

Maharashtra LIVE: Sena-NCP-Cong combine parade 162 MLAs in Mumbai hotel

Senior Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Prithviraj Chavan and Mukul Wasnik address the media after a hearing at Supreme Court on November 25, 2019. (Photo: PTI/ Ravi Choudhary)
The Supreme Court will on Tuesday, 10.30am, rule on petitions challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party forming a government in Maharashtra, reserving its judgment after hearing arguments by lawyers of the central government and the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress combine.
The three parties argued that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis doesn’t have the numbers to be chief minister, taking their fight separately to Parliament.
BJP and the central government lawyers said Fadnavis will prove his majority, but the court didn't have the power to direct Maharashtra’s governor to fix a deadline for a floor test in the Assembly.
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08:22 PM
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#WATCH Mumbai: Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs assembled at Hotel Hyatt take a pledge, "I swear that under the leadership of Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray & Sonia Gandhi, I will be honest to my party. I won't get lured by anything. I will not do anything which will benefit BJP".
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08:22 PM
Oath at joint parade
Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs take oath at joint 'parade' not to fall prey to any inducements by BJP
08:06 PM
'This is not Goa, this is Maharashtra'
"There will not be any problem in proving our majority. The one who is suspended from the party cannot give any orders. On the day of floor test, I will bring more than 162 MLAs. This is not Goa, this is Maharashtra," says Sharad Pawar.
08:03 PM
Pawar hits out at BJP
"We are here together for people of Maharashtra. A government was formed in state without majority. Karnataka, Goa, & Manipur, BJP didn't have majority anywhere but formed government," says NCP Chief Sharad Pawar at Hotel Grand Hyatt in Mumbai where Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs have assembled.
07:58 PM
Fight is for Satyamev Jayate: Uddhav
"Our fight is not just for power, our fight is for 'Satyamev Jayate.' The more you try to break us, the more we will unite," says Uddhav Thackeray
07:49 PM
'We are more than 162'
Congress leader Ashok Chavan at Hotel Grand Hyatt in Mumbai where Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs have assembled: We are more than 162, not just 162. We all will be a part of the government. I thank Sonia Gandhi who allowed for this alliance to stop BJP. Governor should invite us to form government.
07:39 PM
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Mumbai: Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray & Aaditya Thackeray arrive at at Hotel Grand Hyatt where Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs have assembled. #Maharashtra
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07:37 PM
Sharad Pawar arrives
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar arrives at Hotel Grand Hyatt where Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs have assembled
07:18 PM
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#WATCH Mumbai: Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress MLAs assemble at Hotel Grand Hyatt. #Maharashtra
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06:16 PM
Sena-NCP-Cong combine to 'parade' 162 MLAs in Mumbai hotel
The Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will "parade" 162 MLAs in a five-star hotel in Mumbai on Monday evening as a proof of their combined strength in the 288-member Assembly, senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut said. Announcing the move on his tweeter handle, Raut appealed to state Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to witness the "parading" of the legislators of the three parties.
04:01 PM
Hurt by behaviour of Congress MPs: Speaker
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday said the behaviour of the Congress MPs, who stormed the Well of the House to protest against the swearing-in of a BJP-led government in Maharashtra, was "unacceptable" and will not be "tolerated." "I am hurt by whatever happened in Parliament today. It is unacceptable and won't be tolerated," Birla told reporters.
02:31 PM
Lok Sabha Speaker suspends 2 Congress MPs
Lok Sabha Speaker suspends Congress MPs TN Prathapan and Hibi Eden for a day after their protests over Maharashtra, reports India Today TV news channel.
02:19 PM
Fadnavis takes charge as CM
Devendra Fadnavis’s first signature as Maharashtra chief minister is on a cheque from the CM’s relief fund.

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Chief Minister's Office, Maharashtra: CM Devendra Fadnavis’ first signature of this tenure was done on a CM Relief Fund cheque, on reaching Mantralaya, which was handed over to Kusum Vengurlekar by the Chief Minister.
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02:16 PM
Parliament adjourned for the day
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day after protests by Opposition MPs over Maharashtra crisis. Congress alleges Lok Sabha marshals assaulted the party's women MPs. The government says Congress members were unruly.

02:13 PM
Lok Sabha adjourned
Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after protests by Opposition MPs protest Maharashtra crisis.
01:35 PM
Ajit Pawar tweets
Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the man at the centre of Maharashtra’s big political crisis, tweets about a public function he attended.

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सरकारी, सहकारी आणि खाजगी उद्योगांना चालना देणारे आधुनिक महाराष्ट्राचे शिल्पकार, सहकार चळवळीचे नेते तसेच राज्याचे पहिले मुख्यमंत्री, यशवंतराव चव्हाण यांच्या पुण्यतिथीनिमित्त आज, विधानभवनाच्या आवारात त्यांच्या प्रतिमेला पुष्पहार अर्पण करून आदरांजली वाहिली.
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Paid homage to the first CM of the State, Yashwantrao Chavan ji on his death anniversary at Vidhansabha today.
Known as the architect of Modern Maharashtra, he was instrumental in promoting the rise of Public, Cooperative and Private enterprises in the State.
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01:22 PM
Law minister accuses Congress of 'unruly behaviour' in Lok Sabha
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accuses Congress MPs of "unruly behaviour" in Lok Sabha. "We condemn behaviour of Congress MPs in Lok Sabha. You can't convert Lok Sabha into a place of unruly behaviour," he says.
01:13 PM
Lok Sabha Marshals pushed Congress MPs: Party leader
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Congress MP Hibi Eden on reports of clash with Lok Sabha Marshals today: We were in the well of the House, there is no contact with Marshals unless they enter the well. They tried to get banners from us & our colleagues tried to resist it, our women colleagues were manhandled too https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1198867561355464704 …
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Congress MP Hibi Eden on reports of clash with Lok Sabha Marshals today: We had raised a very genuine issue (Maharashtra) in LS & protested in democratic manner. Unfortunately we were taken out by Marshals who tried to push us forcefully. We've filed complaint with the Speaker.
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01:10 PM
Women MPs assaulted in Lok Sabha: Congress
Congress members jostled with marshals in the Lok Sabha after entering the Well of the House as they carried placards and shouted slogans to protest the events in Maharashtra. "Security personnel manhandled our women parliamentarians. We have never experienced this inside Parliament. We will be waiting to see what action is been taken against responsible people," said Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, according to news agency PTI.
01:03 PM
NCP will decide on expelling Ajit Pawar, not an individual: Sharad Pawar
News agency ANI asks NCP chief Sharad Pawar if it will expel Ajit Pawar. “This is not something for which a single individual takes a decision, it has to be decided by the party when the matter comes before it,” Sharad Pawar replies.
11:53 AM
SC reserves order for 10.3am Tuesday
Supreme Court reserves order on Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress petition for Tuesday 10.30 am.
11:47 AM
Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress write to Governor, stake claim
Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress submitted letter to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying they have the required numbers to form government, reports PTI. The 'Maha Vikas Aghadi', the post-poll alliance formed by the three parties, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis "does not have the required numbers". The letter was signed by Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, the legislature party leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
11:44 AM
SC asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi to withdraw plea
Supreme Court asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi, lawyer for Congress and NCP, to withdraw fresh petition with affidavits of 154 Maharashtra MLAs supporting Opposition combine as it has not been supplied to the BJP, reports PTI. Whatever you file in court, you need to give to other side: court tells Singhvi, who withdraws the plea.
11:34 AM
Fraud in Maharashtra: NCP, Congress lawyers
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Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing NCP & Congress: When both the groups are open for Floor Test, why should there be a delay? Does a single NCP MLA here say we will join the BJP alliance? Is there a single covering letter saying this. This was the fraud committed on democracy.
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11:32 AM
SC can't review Governor’s discretionary power: BJP, govt lawyers
Governor's discretionary power cannot be judicially reviewed: BJP lawyer Mukul Rohatgi tells Supreme Court. Governor in absolute discretion invited largest party—the BJP—on November 23: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells court.

11:25 AM
Democracy murdered in Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks in Lok Sabha for the first time in Winter Session. "There is no question of asking question (in Question Hour) today. Democracy has been murdered in Maharashtra," he says.
11:18 AM
Parliament adjourned
Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned til noon and 2 pm as Opposition MPs shout slogans to protest Maharashtra government formation.
11:16 AM
Can Supreme Court order floor test deadline, asks Solicitor General
Supreme Court says floor test will decide if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis enjoys majority support. Solicitor General Mehta, in response, says question is can court say whether floor test can be ordered within a particular time frame.
11:04 AM
Governor couldn't have gone on fishing expedition: Solicitor General
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta says Maharashtra governor had invited Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP to form a government-- President's rule was imposed only after they failed, reports PTI. Governor was not supposed to conduct roving, fishing inquiry to ascertain which party has numbers to form government: Solicitor General tells court. The question is can a party come, seek court's intervention to hold floor test within 24 hours: Tushar Mehta.


10:57 AM
Maharashtra Governor knows all the facts: Centre
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, submits before Supreme Court letters by Maharashtra Governor and Chief Minister. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was cognizant of facts, situation after Maharashtra election results that had led to invoking of Prez rule in state: Centre tells court, according to PTI.

Drama shifts to Assembly as Maharashtra holds its breath for floor test

The political drama in Maharashtra has now shifted from the headquarters of the political parties to the floor of the state’s legislative Assembly, thanks to a gambit by one man: Ajit Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and nephew of Sharad Pawar.
As the NCP’s legislative party leader, he commanded the 54 party members, and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari sworn in former chief minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis as the new CM and Ajit Pawar as his deputy, in early hours on Saturday.

The NCP retaliated late evening by naming Jayant Patil as the new legislative party leader, stripping Ajit Pawar of all his powers, mainly as the chief whip on the floor.
Now, irrespective of who supports whom, only a floor test in the Assembly will decide if this government can continue or not, according to precedent set by the Supreme Court’s judgement in the S R Bommai vs Union of India case of 1994.
The floor test can get advanced if the apex court rules in its favour on Sunday.
“If a government has been formed, that cannot be undone, unless it fails to prove majority on the floor of the House, irrespective of defections till then,” said P D T Acharya, former secretary general of the Lok Sabha. Constitutional provisions on legislature apply both to Parliament and state Assemblies.
Even if the NCP expels its members who are supporting Ajit Pawar, it will not affect their election and House membership.
“The party can act against purported defectors... without any impact on their position as elected MLAs and their legislative support,” said Anant Kalse, who was secretary at the Maharashtra Assembly when Ajit Pawar had served as deputy CM in the Congress-NCP government.
To make any difference, the NCP would need to initiate a disqualification petition action the respective elected member, which can be heard only by the speaker of the Assembly. “A member can move a disqualification petition against the legislative party leader on the grounds that the member has sought to voluntarily exit from the political party,” said Acharya.
If the NCP issues a whip on the floor, Ajit Pawar may face disqualification if he refuses to vote in favour of the party.
However, if the NCP decides to submit an anti-defection petition against MLAs who have gone on their own, only the speaker can hear it, and there lies the catch.
Since a government has now been formed, the governor will call for a special Assembly session, presided by the pro-tem speaker, as the term of the current speaker would expire that day. After the pro-tem speaker delivers oath to members, the Assembly will elect a new speaker by secret ballot.
“There is no time limit on the speaker to take it up, as long as the government commands majority in the House,” Kalse said.
A voice vote or a division during the confidence vote is all the government needs to stay afloat.

Consensus on Uddhav Thackeray to lead Maharashtra govt for 5 years: Pawar

There is consensus in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray should lead the new government in Maharashtra, NCP president Sharad Pawar said here on Friday.
Pawar's announcement capped a day of hectic meetings between the Congress, NCP and their pre-poll allies and a combined meeting of the three parties later in the day.

Emerging from the marathon meeting of top leaders of the Congress, the NCP and the Sena, who are making efforts to form government in Maharashtra, Pawar said there was a consensus on Thackeray's leadership.
Discussions on other issues are in progress, Pawar said after the meeting, held at the Nehru Centre in Worli.
"The issue of leadership is not pending. There is consensus on Uddhav Thackeray leading the new government," Pawar said.
Asked if Uddhav Thackeray will be the new Chief Minister, Pawar shot back, "don't you understand Hindi? The new government will be led by Uddhav Thackeray."
Coming out of the meeting, Uddhav Thackeray told reporters that the talks were satisfactory. "We will end the discussions soon and come before media," he added.
Results of the October 21 Assembly polls were declared on October 24 and President's rule was imposed in the state on November 12 after no party or combine staked claim to form the new government.
The state was plunged into a political crisis after the Sena broke its three-decade-long ties with the BJP after the latter declined to share the chief minister's post.
The BJP and Sena, which fought the Assembly polls in alliance, had secured a comfortable majority by winning 105 and 56 seats, respectively, in the 288-member Assembly. The Congress and the NCP, pre-poll allies, won 44 and 54 seats, respectively.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said his party won't side with the BJP even if offered Lord Indra's throne.
Talking to reporters, Raut reiterated that his party will get the Maharashtra CM's post when the three-party alliance with Congress and NCP assumes power.
"The time for offers has ended," Raut said, when asked about reports that the BJP had agreed to share the CM's post with the Sena. "People of Maharashtra want Uddhav Thackeray to become the CM," he said.
Uddhav Thackeray on Friday met his party's legislators and told them that the process to form a Sena-led dispensation in the state was in the final stages.
Thackeray instructed the Sena MLAs to stay together in Mumbai as they may be required any time, a party MLA said.
Earlier on Friday, the Congress and NCP said their smaller allies have backed the idea of forming a government in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena to keep its estranged ally BJP out of power in the state.
Congress and NCP representatives held a meeting with their pre-poll allies here, which was attended by leaders of the Samajwadi Party, the RPI (Kawade faction), the RPI (Kharat faction), Raju Shetti-led Swabhimani Paksha, the Peasants and Workers' Party (PWP), the CPI(M), the Janata Dal and others.
"Our pre-poll allies supported the idea of forming a government with the Sena to keep the BJP away from power," state NCP chief Jayant Patil told reporters after the meeting.
Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the alliance partners have prepared a draft Common Minimum Programme (CMP), which is to be cleared by top leaders of the three parties.
"The final CMP will guide the actions of the proposed government," the Congress leader said.
Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi made a pitch for ending communalism in the country.
"The Shiv Sena will have to tweak some of its policies if it wants our support...we will have to form the government to obliterate communalism," he said, adding the prospective government should be fair to Dalits, minorities, farmers and the weak.
Terming the alliance among Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress as opportunistic, senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari said that even if they formed the government in Maharashtra, it will not last beyond six to eight months.
In an interview to PTI, he said the alliance forged by these "ideologically different" parties was just to keep the BJP out of power, which was unfortunate. The state is going to five-phased polls from November 30.
"Opportunism is the base of their alliance. The three parties have become united with the only motto to keep the BJP out of power. I have doubts whether this government will be formed... Even if it is formed, it will not last beyond six to eight months, Gadkari said.

Chidambaram taken to AIIMS after he complains of stomach ache: Report

Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is currently in the custody of Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media case, was taken to AIIMS on Monday after he complained of stomach ache and other related issues.
Sources said Chidambaram was taken to the RML Hospital in the morning but has now been shifted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here.

Chidambaram complained of illness and pain in the stomach, the sources added.
Sources at AIIMS said the former union minister was brought to the hospital around 5.40 PM and is being examined by a team of doctors in the old private ward.
While those close to Chidambaram said "his condition is not good", ED sources claimed "there was nothing serious".

Confer Bharat Ratna on Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev: Manish Tewari

Congress leader Manish Tewari has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to confer the Bharat Ratna on freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.
In a letter to Modi, he also requested him to formally confer the honorific title of Shaheed-E-Azam on them and dedicate the Chandigarh airport located in Mohali in memory of Bhagat Singh.

"I would like to draw your kind attention towards the fact that Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev inspired an entire generation of patriots by their unrelenting resistance to British Imperialism and later their supreme sacrifice on the 23rd of March, 1931," the MP from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab said.
"It would be in the fitness of things that if on 26th of January, 2020 all three of them are honoured with the 'Bharat Ratna'; they are formally conferred with the honorific of 'Shaheed-E-Azam'; the Chandigarh Airport located in Mohali is named as Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh Airport, Chandigarh (Mohali). This gesture would touch the hearts and souls of 124 crore Indians," he said in his letter dated October 25.
Tewari shared his letter on Twitter too.
His suggestions come in the wake of the BJP in Maharashtra demanding that the Bharat Ratna be conferred on Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar, which triggered a row.
Earlier, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi had also called for conferring the Bharat Ratna on Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev.

India's biggest telecom show may not feature Ambani vs Mittal this year

If last year’s India Mobile Congress, considered the biggest telecom summit in South Asia, was about business leaders Sunil Bharti Mittal and Mukesh Ambani sharing the same dais despite intense rivalry, this edition will possibly be dominated by the upcoming 5G play and spectrum auction. The official agenda is silent on Mittal and Ambani’s participation this time, and the list of speakers is overflowing with the next-gen from big business groups.
However, in a first, Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to inaugurate the India Mobile Congress, scheduled from October 14 to 16. Typically, telecom ministers inaugurate the summit.

Shah heads several groups of ministers (GoMs), including the one to decide the revival package for Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephnhgone Nigam (MTNL). The ministry that Shah heads also takes decisive calls on national security in relation to telecom operations as well as equipment and technology used in the industry. Currently, a decision on whether or not Chinese player Huawei can participate in 5G play in India is pending with the Centre.
Rajan Mathews, director general of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said besides 5G, the mobile congress would deliberate on the future of artificial intelligence in the country. The underlying theme of the event — 5G — would be showcased by both the telecom companies and original equipment manufacturers. And, equipment makers Ericsson and Huawei happen to be the main sponsors.
India Mobile CongressBharti Airtel will demonstrate live 5G network and digital solutions for smart businesses and smart cities of tomorrow at the event. The company will showcase the 5G network user experience along with pre-5G technologies such as Licensed Assisted Access (LAA). These high-speed network technologies of the future will form the bedrock of an emerging Digital India, which will have smart homes, smart cities and smart factories, Airtel said in a statement.
Young entrepreneurs including Isha Ambani and Aakash Ambani (Reliance Industries), Kavin Bharti Mittal (Bharti Enterprises) and Rishad Premji (Wipro) are expected to brainstorm on the next generation of digital wave.
Huawei, which has been in the midst of a controversy over issues related to security, will line up its used 5G cases. “We are very happy and excited that we would be able to conduct 5G trials at the India Mobile Congress,” a company executive said.
The three-day event would be attended by industry and government representatives, with discussions revolving around building digital infrastructure in the country.
The summit is meant to promote start-ups, innovators and enterprises, without losing focus on local manufacturing and drawing foreign investments. The idea is also to see a shift from India being a technology consumer to an exporter.
At the 2018 meet, Sunil Mittal had expressed concern over challenges such as high taxes and spectrum charges in the sector, while Mukesh Ambani had opted to talk about connecting everybody at the most affordable rates. On Monday, If Ambani and Mittal don’t turn up, shutterbugs may be disappointed even as they track as many as 36 sessions and 250 plus speakers through the next three days.

PM clueless on how to solve 'self-created economic disaster': Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hit out at the government over the record cash transfer by the RBI, saying the prime minister and the finance minister are "clueless" about solving the "self-created economic disaster" and accused them of "stealing money" from the Bank.
He also said that the move was akin to stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary and sticking it on a gunshot wound.

Gandhi's reaction came after the RBI allowed the government to take Rs 1.76 trillion from its reserves to provide a fresh impetus to the economy.
"PM and FM are clueless about how to solve their self created economic disaster," he charged on Twitter.
"Stealing from RBI won't work - it's like stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary and sticking it on a gunshot wound," he said, using the hashtag "#RBILooted".

Rahul Gandhi
✔
@RahulGandhi
PM & FM are clueless about how to solve their self created economic disaster.
Stealing from RBI won’t work - it’s like stealing a Band-Aid from the dispensary & sticking it on a gunshot wound. #RBILooted https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/rbi-to-transfer-rs-176-lakh-crore-surplus-to-the-government …

RBI To Transfer A Record Surplus Of Rs 1.76 Lakh Crore To The Government
RBI central board accepts all recommendations by Bimal Jalan committee on economic capital framework.
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In a separate tweet, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala wondered whether the move was "fiscal prudence or fiscal hara-kiri".
He also wondered if it was coincidence that the Rs 1.76 trillion borrowed by the RBI matches with the "missing amount" in the budget calculations.
"Is it a sheer coincidence that the Rs 1.76 trillion borrowed by RBI matches with the 'Missing' amount in the Budget Calculations," he asked.
"Is this fiscal prudence or fiscal hara-kiri? Will this Rs 1.76 trillion be used to save BJP's crony friends,"he also asked.
The Congress leader attached a media report on "the mystery of the 'missing' Rs 1.7 trillion in India's budget".
His party colleague and spokesperson Sanjay Jha said in a tweet, "Robbed Bank of India: RBI.

Opposition delegation led by Rahul Gandhi sent back to Delhi from Srinagar

A delegation of parties including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Saturday not allowed to go out of Srinagar airport and was sent back to Delhi.
The delegation came back to Delhi this evening.

The delegation comprising opposition parties like Congress, CPI, DMK, RJD, TMC, NCP and JD(S) was visiting the city in Jammu and Kashmir to see the ground reality days after the Centre abrogated Article 370.
Senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad Congress, Anand Sharma, Sitaram Yechury, Sharad Yadav, Manoj Jha, Majeed Memon, Tiruchi Shiva and D Raja were the part of the delegation which left from Delhi for Srinagar earlier in the day.
Before leaving from Delhi airport, the leaders insisted that they were only going to assess the ground realities and not for creating any disturbance.
After not being allowed to visit Srinagar, the Congress tweeted, "If the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "normal" as the government claims, why has the delegation of Opposition leaders led by Rahul Gandhi been sent back from Srinagar airport? What is the Modi govt trying to hide?"
Earlier on August 20, leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad was stopped and sent back from the airport in Jammu. Azad was stopped at the Jammu airport while he was reportedly on his way to attend a meeting to be held in the headquarters of the District Congress Committee there.
On August 9, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D. Raja were detained at the Srinagar airport while on their way to meet party leaders and denied entry into the region.
After repealing of provisions of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, which granted it special status, several leaders in the Valley were put under house arrest as a precautionary measure by the Centre. The security was also heightened in the area after the Centre's decision to revoke Article 370.
Earlier this month, Parliament defanged the Article 370 also passed the Jammu and Kashmir (Reorganisation) Bill 2019, reorganizing the state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir with Assembly and Ladakh without legislature.

CBI gets Chidambaram till Aug 26 for questioning in INX Media case

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was on Thursday sent to the custody of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for four days by a Delhi court following his arrest by for alleged corruption during his tenure as finance minister.
Ajay Kumar Kuhar, a special judge appointed to the case, allowed the CBI custody of Chidambaram until August 26. "Considering the facts and circumstances, I am of the view that police (CBI) custody is justified," Kumar said.

Chidambaram, 73, can meet his lawyers and family for 30 minutes and he will be medically examined every 48 hours while in custody.
Chidambaram was taken Wednesday night from his residence in Delhi, soon after he appeared at Congress party offices to address reporters, saying he had not been hiding for the past 24 hours -- as many believed -- but seeking protection of the law.
Flanked by party colleagues and senior lawyers he said no charge had been filed in a court by the investigating agencies. “Yet, there is a widespread impression that grave offences have been committed and my son and I have committed those offences,” said Chidambaram. “Nothing can be further from the truth.”
When Chidambaram returned to his residence after addressing the media, a team from the CBI arrived and whisked him away.
A lawyer with a degree from Harvard Business School, Chidambaram is one of the most prominent members of the Congress party and is a lawmaker in the Rajya.
He’s been facing allegations since May 2017, when the CBI registered a case against his son and unknown officials from the finance ministry for corruption in an overseas investment approval when Chidambaram was the finance minister in 2007. Since then, the Enforcement Directorate, which investigates financial crimes, has also begun investigating a case of alleged money laundering.
Chidambaram had sought interim protection in both cases, however the Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant him bail, saying he appeared to be the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” of the alleged scam. The Supreme Court will hear his plea on Friday seeking a stay of the High Court order.
(With inputs from Bloomberg and PTI)

INX media: SC to hear on Friday Chidambaram's plea seeking stay on HC order

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is facing threat of arrest, failed on Wednesday to get protection from the Supreme Court which decided to hear on Friday his petition seeking stay on the Delhi High Court order that had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
Registrar (Judicial) informed Chidambaram's lawyer that Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has listed the matter for hearing on Friday.

Soon after getting the message from Registrar (Judicial), a team of lawyers led by senior advocate Kapil Sibal had short deliberation in the consultation room after which they left the apex court.
Chidambaram, who was home minister and finance minister in the UPA government from 2004-2014, had sought a stay on the Delhi High Court's Tuesday judgement dismissing his anticipatory bail plea and paving the way for his arrest lodged by CBI and ED in cases related to the INX Media scam.
His petition was first mentioned by Sibal in the morning before a bench, comprising Justices N V Ramana, M Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi, which sent it for being placed before the CJI for his consideration to accord it urgent hearing.
When the team of lawyers representing Chidambaram did not receive any information on urgent listing, Sibal once again mentioned it before the same bench after it assembled post lunch.
Sibal, flanked by other senior advocates Salman Khurshid, Vivek Tankha and Indira Jaising, told the bench that the investigating agencies have issued a look out notice against Chidambaram as if he is going to "run away".
The top court said the defects in the petition had been removed "just now" and it "cannot be listed for hearing today itself".
"Without listing of the petition, we cannot hear the matter," said the bench.
"Sorry Mr Sibal. We cannot hear the matter," the bench said when he repeatedly asked for hearing the matter on Wednesday itself.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the plea of Chidambaram for hearing the matter on oral mentioning saying that the papers are not with him.
Just as the bench assembled in the post lunch session, Sibal said he was once again mentioning the matter for listing as he had not heard anything from the Registry about its listing.
The bench told him that there were some defects in the petition and the Registry had informed about it.
When Sibal said the defects have been cured, the bench called Registrar (judicial) Surya Pratap Singh and enquired about the defects.
The Registrar said the defects have been cured "just now", and the petition will be placed before the CJI for allocating it before an appropriate bench.
At this, Sibal said that the matter cannot be listed today as the CJI was sitting in the Constitution bench and will not rise before 4 pm.
While the senior advocate was repeatedly insisting the matter be hear, the bench told him, "We have already directed the matter to be placed before CJI".
"Generally, the matters for listing are placed before the CJI in the evening but in the morning we immediately refer it to CJI," the bench said.
"It is not our job, but the Registry has to take the step," the bench further said.
When Sibal reminded the bench that in the past on the basis of oral mentioning protection from arrest has been granted to people, the bench said, "we directed the Registry and it found that there were defects in the petition".
At the end of the hearing, Sibal said that Chidambaram was ready to give an undertaking that he will not run away but the bench did not consider the submission and concluded the brief hearing.
In the morning, Mehta, appearing for the CBI and the ED, had told the bench that it was a case of money laundering of "monumental magnitude".
One of the law officers assisting Mehta said, "We are ready and fully prepared to oppose any move by Chidambaram".
Sibal told the apex court that Chidambaram's plea was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.
He said Chidambaram was granted protection from arrest for more than a year in the INX case lodged by the CBI and ED.
Sibal said the high court had also refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram to enable him to approach the apex court.
"The matter should be heard. I (Chidamabaram) should not be arrested in the meanwhile," Sibal said.
He also told the court that at 2 am on Wednesday the probe agencies pasted a notice on Chidambaram's house that he has to appear before them within two hours.
When Sibal said they have got their petition numbered from the Registry, the bench said, "You finish all formalities".
Chidambaram suffered a major setback Tuesday as the High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail in the INX Media scam describing him as the "kingpin", and paved the way for the investigating agencies, CBI and ED, to arrest him.
CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.
Thereafter, the ED in 2018 lodged the money laundering case in this regard.
Chidambaram's role had come under the scanner of various investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.
It was during his tenure as finance minister in the UPA-I government that clearances from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) were given to the two ventures.

INX media case: P Chidambaram moves SC against HC order denying bail

Congress leader P Chidambaram, facing threat of arrest in the INX media scam, failed to get an audience from Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday for urgent hearing of his appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi high Court order dismissing his anticipatory bail plea.
A team of lawyers led by senior advocate and Chidambaram's party colleague Kapil Sibal was told by Registrar (Judicial) to mention the petition on Wednesday morning in the apex court.

Sibal was the first senior advocate to reach the apex court to meet Chidambaram and the two were seen rushing from one corridor to another to meet officials including the secretary general and CJI's staff for having word with Justice Gogoi.
Later, they went to a consultation room and were joined by other senior advocates and party colleagues, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid.
Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, who had appeared for Chidambaram in the High Court on Tuesday, also joined them later.
One of the lawyers from the team said the petition challenging the High Court order was yet to be filed in the top court.
After hectic parleys, Sibal said he has been informed by an apex court official to mention the petition on Wednesday at 10:30 am before an appropriate bench.
He said that as Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be sitting in the Constitution bench for hearing the Ayodhya case, the petition is to be mentioned before the senior-most judge, who is not on the Constitution bench.
Sibal said that in all probability, the senior-most judge would be Justice N V Ramana, who is number three in seniority after CJI and Justice S A Bobde.
Both CJI and Justice Bobde are part of the five-judge Constitution bench hearing the Ayodhya case.
Sibal said the team is yet to get the copy of the Delhi High Court judgement.
Minutes after the High Court decision when Sibal tried to get the matter before the CJI, he was asked by a Supreme Court official to place Chidambaram's petition before Registrar (judicial) who will take call on putting it before the Chief Justice of India.
Sibal met Registrar (judicial) Surya Pratap Singh and explained to him the situation and explored as to what could be done.

Rahul urged to continue as chief, final decision today, says Surjewala

The Congress Working Committee on Saturday again urged Rahul Gandhi to reconsider his decision to quit as party chief and said it was yet to take a final call on his resignation.
The CWC unanimously appealed to Gandhi to lead the party, saying he was the best person for the top post at the time when the BJP-led government was "assaulting democracy and undermining people's rights".

After Gandhi refused to reconsider his decision, the CWC began consultations on finding his successor under five regional sub-groups led by younger leaders.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the CWC will meet again during the day to discuss the reports of the sub-groups and take a call on Rahul Gandhi's resignation by evening.
"The CWC will meet again this evening to take a call on the reports of CWC sub-groups. There was a sense that the situation of impasse on Congress leadership should be resolved as soon as possible. Therefore it was felt that the CWC should meet again this evening and take a call on the issue," Surjewala said.

Cong top brass meets today to find new chief after Rahul step-down

All eyes are on the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that is meeting in New Delhi on Saturday morning to select a new party chief, after Rahul Gandhi quit the post.
All state unit presidents of the party, party MPs and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leaders have been asked to attend the meeting along with a large number of state leaders.

Senior party leader K.C. Venugopal on Friday said that the party will certainly get a new president on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting of the party general secretaries, state in-charges, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs, CLP leaders and All India Congress Committee (AICC) department heads and MPs, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) Venugopal said the CWC, party's top decision-making body, will hear views of state unit chiefs, legislature party leaders, MPs, frontal organisations' heads and secretaries of the AICC.
"Then it will decide on the new name," he said.

Karnataka crisis: SC hears rebel MLAs plea, to deliver order on Wednesday

The Supreme Court will pronounce its order Wednesday morning on the pleas of 15 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs seeking direction for Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar to accept their resignations from the Assembly.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi concluded the hearings of the rebel MLAs, the Speaker and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Summing up the arguments, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the 15 rebel MLAs, asked the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose, to continue with its interim order directing the Speaker to maintain status quo on the issue of resignations and disqualification of the MLAs.
The counsel for the rebel MLAs also asked the bench that if the House assembles for business the 15 rebel MLAs be exempted from appearing on the basis of the whip of the ruling coalition which, he said, has been reduced to minority government.

Navjot Singh Sidhu tweets letter of resignation as Punjab Cabinet Minister

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was sulking after being stripped off key portfolios in the Punjab cabinet reshuffle in June, has resigned from the Amarinder Singh cabinet.
Sidhu took to Twitter on Sunday, making public his resignation letter dated June 10 addressed to Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

"I hereby resign as Minister from Punjab Cabinet," Sidhu said in the letter to the Congress chief, which he posted on his Twitter handle.
In another tweet, Sidhu said he would be sending his resignation letter to the chief minister.
On June 6, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had divested Sidhu of the Local Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments and allotted him the power and new and renewable energy portfolio.
In an apparent snub, Sidhu was also left out of the consultative groups formed by the chief minister on June 8, two days after the cabinet reshuffle, to accelerate the implementation of the government's flagship programmes.
Over a month after he was stripped of key portfolios, Sidhu had not taken charge of his new assignment, as a stalemate with the chief minister had continued.

Congress leaders Milind Deora, Jyotiraditya Scindia resign from party posts

Mumbai Congress president Milind Deora on Sunday announced his resignation from the post and said he was looking forward to play a role at the national level to help stabilise the party. Hours after Deora tendered his resignation, AICC General Secretary Jyotiraditya Scindia announced his decision to quit.
Deora contested the Lok Sabha poll from Mumbai-South constituency, but lost to Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant. Scindia, on the other hand, lost to BJP's Krishna Pal Singh Yadav from Guna constituency.
A statement issued by Deora's office on Sunday said taking on the BJP-Shiv Sena and negating the impact of Vanchit Aghadi is a challenge for the Congress in Maharashtra.
Deora expressed his desire to quit shortly after meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on June 26.
"The same has been conveyed to All India Congress Committee general secretaries Mallikarjun Kharge and K C Venugopal," the statement said.
When contacted, Deora said political realities have changed since the Lok Sabha results. "We all will have to get ready for roles that these times demand," he said.
He recommended setting up of a provisional collective leadership comprising three senior Congress leaders to oversee the city party unit the Maharashtra Assembly polls which are due later this year.

Deora was appointed president of the Mumbai Congress on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year.
"I had accepted MRCC presidentship in the interest of uniting the party.
I felt I should also resign after meeting Rahul Gandhi," he said.
Gandhi resigned as Congress president at a CWC meeting on May 25, two days after results of the Lok Sabha elections were declared.
"I have suggested a three-member panel (to oversee the city party unit) and am being consulted by leaders to identify names. I look forward to play a national role to help stabilise the party. Needless to say, I will continue to guide and unite the Mumbai Congress," Deora said.
Meanwhile, Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from his post on Sunday, taking responsibility for the party's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
"Accepting the people's verdict and taking accountability, I had submitted my resignation as General Secretary of AICC to Shri @RahulGandhi. I thank him for entrusting me with this responsibility and for giving me the opportunity to serve our party," Scindia tweeted.

BJP will have no walkover in Parliament, says Congress chief Rahul Gandhi

The Congress parliamentary party on Saturday re-elected United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as its leader. The Congress also said Rahul Gandhi continued to be the party chief and requested the media not to speculate on the issue.
In her speech after the re-election, Sonia Gandhi said several decisive measures to strengthen the Congress were being discussed. Addressing the newly elected members of Parliament (MPs) of the party, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress might have just 52 Lok Sabha members, but they “will work together like a pride of brave-hearted lions” to protect the Constitution and institutions and fearlessly do their duty as the leading Opposition party. “The BJP will have no walkover in Parliament,” he said.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had authorised Rahul to carry out a complete overhaul of the party organisation “from top to bottom and to do so expeditiously”. Rahul Gandhi had threatened to quit as the party chief at the CWC meeting last week.
Surjewala said the Congress would not stake a claim to the leader of the opposition status until such time that it had the strength of 54.
ALSO READ: 'Cong team camping in Amethi for past 3 days to review Rahul Gandhi defeat
The status is granted to the principal opposition party if it has at least 10 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats. The Congress, which has won 52 seats, is two short in the current 542-member Lok Sabha. After Rahul Gandhi met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar earlier this week, there is speculation that the NCP could merge with the Congress.
The NCP has five seats in the Lok Sabha, the addition of which to its tally would give the Congress the needed 10 per cent seats in the House.
Surjewala said the party’s constitution empowered the Congress parliamentary party leader to pick its leaders of the two Houses, which would be done in the House. Ghulam Nabi Azad is the leader of the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, while Mallikarjun Kharge was the leader of the party in the last Lok Sabha. Kharge has lost the election.

Congress Working Committee Congress leader Sonia Gandhi flanked by former prime minister Manmohan Singh and party President Rahul Gandhi on her being elected as Congress Parliamentary Party leader at CPP General Body Meeting, at Parliament House in New Delhi | PTI
There is a possibility that Rahul Gandhi could agree to be the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who has won a third successive Lok Sabha election, is also a candidate. The Congress’ strategy for the coming months was also evident from the speeches of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi. Surjewala said the Congress and other Opposition parties would raise people’s issues with one voice. He questioned the government on the increased price of cooking gas cylinders, declining exports, and increasing unemployment in the country.
Sonia Gandhi thanked the 12.3 crore voters who had voted for the Congress in the just-concluded elections. “We were up against an election machinery with all odds stacked against us — unlimited resources, ability to manipulate public opinion and the spread of mischievous propaganda,” she told the party MPs.
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She thanked Rahul Gandhi for his “valiant and relentless campaign”. She said Rahul Gandhi as Congress president toiled night and day for the party, demonstrated his fearless leadership by taking the Modi government head on, and highlighted the injustices against farmers, workers, traders and small businesses, youth, women and the marginalised.
She said Rahul Gandhi had rejuvenated the Congress organisation in many states. “Even as I speak, emotional messages are coming from all corners, vindicating his leadership.” She said the Congress numbers in the Rajya Sabha would be challenged, and “it is even more important to ensure better coordination and cooperation with like-minded parties”.
“In an unprecedented crisis, lies an unprecedented opportunity. It is up to us to grasp it with humility and self-confidence, drawing the appropriate lessons from our defeat,” she said.