After NCP support to BJP, Sena to sit in Opposition

Shiv Sena stakes claim to post of Leader of Opposition

Barely an hour after Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar declared that his party’s support to the BJP-led minority government in Maharashtra is unasked, unconditional and unilateral, the Shiv Sena announced that it has chosen to sit in the Opposition.

The Sena officially communicated to Assembly Secretary Anant Kalase that the leader of the newly elected Sena MLAs, Eknath Shinde, should be considered for the post of Leader of the Opposition.

However, that does not mean it is the end of the road for the two parties, as Sena’s announcement came with a teaser saying its talks with the BJP would continue. The party said that it has staked claim for the post of Leader of the Opposition only to ensure that the Congress does not bag it in case its negotiations with the BJP fail.

If the NCP sticks to its decision, the trust vote slated for Wednesday would be a mere academic exercise.

The BJP government needs at least 22 MLAs more to reach the magic number of 145 in the event the trust motion is put to vote. Sena, which has 63 members, on Sunday had declared that it would prefer to sit in the opposition if the BJP ‘seeks’ the support of NCP which has 41 members.

‘NCP decision in the interest of stability’

At a crowded press conference here on Monday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar kept up the suspense on his party’s strategy during the trust motion of the newly sworn-in BJP government, led by Devendra Fadnavis, on November 12.

The NCP’s unambiguous stance gave two more days for the BJP and the Shiv Sena to sort out their differences over the latter’s role in the Central as well as the State governments. However, the Sena went ahead with its decision on the plea that it had not heard from any of the BJP leaders on its role in the State government.

“We would take a call on the trust vote depending on our assessment about the stability of the Fadnavis government,” Mr. Pawar said, clearly implying that the NCP would vote in favour of the motion if necessary.

Mr. Pawar, who was at his witty best in the course of a 45-minute press conference, said that his party had extended its support to the Fadnavis government. “It is like the right of a voter. You cannot question the voter why he/she is voting and for whom the vote is cast,” he said.

“The NCP has taken a decision in the interest of stability of the State. Neither has anyone approached us for support nor have we discussed it with anyone,” he remarked in response to a question on the Sena’s demand that the BJP make its position clear on the support offered by the NCP.