A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi, the NCP on Tuesday said it can be an alternative for government formation if the Shiv Sena so decides.
Mumbai NCP chief and MLA Nawab Malik told reporters, “We have made it clear that we can be an alternative … if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fails to form a government … It is the Sena’s turn to take the decision.”
While Congress and NCP leaders have said the Sena has not sent them a proposal seeking support, there have been reports of meetings between Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Mr. Pawar. According to sources, Mr. Pawar has also had telephonic conversations with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Officially, both have denied this.
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Support against poaching
On the possibility of the BJP attempting to poach MLAs from the Sena or the Opposition, the NCP said there will be absolute support to the Sena. “In such a case, we will all support the Sena candidate in the bypoll and ensure it retains the seat,” NCP State president Jayant Patil said.
According to sources within the Congress and the NCP, the only way they will offer support the Sena is if the party quits the National Democratic Alliance at the Centre and its minister Arvind Sawant resigns from the Union Cabinet. “There cannot be two opinions on this,” a Congress leader said.
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While the State Congress leadership appears to be in favour of backing the Sena, all eyes are on the central leadership, which will take the final call.
Ashish Dua, party secretary and Maharashtra in-charge, said, “All parties are in wait and watch mode. Even the BJP, which was boasting a few days ago, has turned helpless and is doing the same. The State governance has been paralysed due to an incapable BJP government. The party leadership will soon take a decision on the matter of supporting the Sena.”