The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is likely to vote in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Maharashtra during the confidence motion next week, instead of supporting it by merely abstaining from voting, senior party leaders have confirmed.
“Our spokesperson Praful Patel has already declared that we will be voting in favour of the BJP government. That seems to be the party’s stand,” said senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal.
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Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was more measured, but did not dismiss the likelihood of the party voting for the Fadnavis government.
“We will decide on the day of the trust vote,” Mr. Pawar told
Shortly after the election results were declared, the NCP declared it would offer unconditional support from outside to the BJP government, and later said it would abstain in the event of a trust vote. The party’s stand had triggered allegations that it was trying to protect its leaders from corruption charges, including those connected to the irrigation scam.
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The BJP has 122 MLAs (including one belonging to an ally) in the Assembly and needs another 22 to reach the halfway mark.