In first public remarks after the revolt in the Shiv Sena threatened to bring down the ruling MVA coalition in Maharashtra, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Thursday “whether this government is in a minority or not will be tested on the floor of the Assembly”. After he met NCP legislators, Pawar said he was hopeful that the Shiv Sena MLAs would return and that the MVA, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, would prove its majority. He blamed the BJP for the rebellion. “When the MLAs return they will narrate the reality of how they were taken. When they come here and clarify that they are with the Shiv Sena, the majority of the MVA will be proved,” he said. “All the Shiv Sena rebels will have to come to Vidhan Bhawan in Mumbai. Let us then see how BJP leaders from Gujarat and Assam will be able to guide them,” he said. This remark drew an angry response from Union Minister and BJP leader Narayan Rane who said, “If anybody dares to harm Shiv Sena rebels led by Eknath Shinde, we will ensure Sharad Pawar will not be able to reach his home. Pawar has the habit of giving threats. He should stop doing this.” Pawar said the rebel MLAs need to return to Maharashtra to challenge the majority of the MVA government. “Whether this government is in a minority or not will be tested on the floor of the Assembly. When the test happens, it will be proved that the MVA has the majority. We have faced such situations in the past as well. We will prove majority under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray and this government will survive,” he said. On Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's remark that the Sena may walk out of the MVA if that is what the rebel candidates want, he said, “Those who left their leaders are saying that they are angry about the Shiv Sena having formed an alliance with Congress-NCP. Sanjay Raut has said if that is what is troubling them, their opinion can be considered but they need to say that here in Maharashtra and not speak while sitting in Assam. That's all that he has said.” On Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s statement that prima facie the BJP does not seem to be involved in facilitating the Sena rebellion, Pawar took a swipe at his nephew: “Ajit Pawar may have said what he did looking at the situation in the state. Eknath Shinde’s hand was visible here in the state as MLAs disappeared. While Ajit may know what is happening in the state, I know better as to what is happening in Gujarat and Assam.” “I came across an interview with Ekanth Shinde where he said that a national party is willing to extend support to him. Let me read out the names of national parties in India as listed by the ECI. They are the BJP, BSP, CPI, CPM, TMC and the NCP. Do you think any of these parties, other than the BJP, would support this rebellion?” he said. He said some of the rebel MLAs were being investigated by Central agencies and the fear of these agencies could have had a bearing on the steps they took. Earlier, Jayant Patil, leader of the NCP legislature party, said his party will stand with Uddhav Thackeray until the end. “Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi is a government established for the development and welfare of Maharashtra. We stand firmly with Uddhav Thackeray till the end. I am sure that no true Shiv Sainik will behave in a way that will deceive the thoughts of the venerable Balasaheb Thackeray,” he said. “If the government stays, we will be in power. If the government goes, we will sit in Opposition,” he said. Congress president Nana Patole said he was not so concerned about Raut's statement. “The statement by Raut is an internal matter of the Shiv Sena. I just want people to know that we are resolute in our support of the MVA,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, who is from the NCP, rejected a resolution by Shiv Sena rebel MLAs who had named Shinde as leader of the Sena in the House. Zirwal said he had approved the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as leader of the Sena MLAs in the House.
