Alibaug/Mumbai: The nascent BJP government in Maharashtra today appeared on a sticky wicket with NCP chief Sharad Pawar making it clear that its stability was not his party’s responsibility even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted it was stable and hoped Shiv Sena would join it.
Shiv Sena, however, did not appear too keen to be a part of the BJP-led government “for now” and said it held the “keys” to the stability of the 18-day-old dispensation.
“Having a stable government in Maharashtra isn’t NCP’s responsibility. We have to be ready to face snap polls in Maharashtra,” Pawar, whose party had declared outside support to the government, said addressing a two-day meeting of NCP which got underway at Alibaug in Raigad district.
“The present situation in Maharashtra is not of long term political stability. If the political instability continues, then in four to six months the state may have to face polls,” he said.
Fadnavis, however, asserted his government was stable but appeared pinning hopes on Sena to bail it out of the unenviable situation in which it now finds itself.
“No, not at all. My government is not at all unstable. People have voted us to power with a certain confidence to have a speedy and efficient administration and we are doing just that,” he told reporters.
“I don’t think there will be mid-term polls. No party wants a snap poll,” he said when asked for his reaction to Pawar’s statement.
Asked about the possibility of Sena joining the government, Fadnavis said, “We have not closed our doors for talks with Sena. I am confident that talks will be held and something positive will emerge out of these talks.”
BJP has 121 MLAs in the Assembly having an effective strength of 287. With the backing of 41-member NCP, it had a comfortable majority. However, if NCP decides to withdraw support, it will be well short of the magic figure of 144 despite the backing of seven Independents and some from smaller parties.
Sniggering at the discomfiture Pawar’s statement may have caused in BJP, Shiv Sena said the “keys” to the survival of the government was now in its hands.
“I am sure there won’t be fresh polls in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has the keys to keep the government stable or unstable,” Sena MP and spokesman Sanjay Raut said.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray did not appear too eager to join hands with BJP.
“We have not taken any decision as of now about joining the government. We will decide according to the situation at that time. For now, I can only say we are ready to be a strong Opposition party,” he said when asked if Sena will be a part of the government when the Cabinet is expanded.
“People (the BJP) who were with us for 25 years ditched us. Now we will only concentrate on standing firmly behind the common man,” he said, apparently reflecting the unease between the two erstwhile allies.
After power-sharing negotiations between the two parties collapsed over Sena’s reported demands for deputy chief ministership and some key portfolios, the party had staked claim to Leader of Opposition’s post. With 63 MLAs it is the second largest party after BJP and at present is the main opposition in the Assembly.
After declaring unconditional outside support to the minority BJP government the day Assembly poll threw up a hung House, NCP has been showing signs of a rethink in the party over continuing support to the Fadnavis government.
