Speaking to the media on Wednesday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that his party and the Congress will not make any attempts to form the government in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has been trying to reach out to NCP and Congress to form the government without the BJP.

"There is only one option, which is that the BJP and the SS should form the government. There is no other option other than this to avoid President's rule," Pawar said in the presser.

With Pawar making it clear that the UPA alliance is not in the race, the BJP must be more than happy. The BJP has welcomed Pawar's statement and said that the people's mandate will have to be respected by its partner, SS. Devendra Fadnavis is expected to be sworn in as the Chief Minister later this week.