Sharad Pawar talks of political instability in Maharashtra, asks NCP to prepare for mid-term polls

A day after BJP reached out to Shiv Sena to bring stability to its government, Pawar warns of mid term elections.

A day after the BJP took the initiative to re-open talks with the Shiv Sena to try and bring on board its erstwhile ally, the president of NCP which had offered unconditional support to the ruling party after last month’s polls put the government on notice by predicting the possibility of mid-term polls in Maharashtra.

At a two day NCP conclave which began on Tuesday at Alibaug, Pawar told party workers to gear up for mid-term elections in the state. Adopting an aggressive posture against the BJP he said that ensuring the stability of the Maharashtra government is not NCP’s responsibility. The NCP had until now defended its stand on offering unconditional support to the BJP government saying that it wanted to provide stability in the larger interest of the state.

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The change in stance is viewed in political circles as another political ploy by Pawar to reassert the significance of his organisation in state politics. A former cabinet minister from the NCP who is part of the core group revealed to Indian Express that Pawar’s master stroke at the conclave was to diffuse the growing unrest within the organisation to offer unconditional support to the BJP. Also, it comes at a time when Pawar reckons that there is a strong prospect of the Sena giving its nod to join the BJP lead government in Maharashtra, he said.

Given the latest developments involving the saffron alliance partners, Pawar wants to seize the opposition space for NCP instead of the Congress which was more belligerent after the vote of confidence, Pawar also realises that a Sena-BJP alliance would spell fresh trouble as the BJP led government may take the alleged corruption cases against some of the NCP ministers in the previous government to the logical end.

Taking the combined strength of the BJP (121) and the Sena (63) which would make for a comfortable tally of 184 in the 288 member assembly, the NCP which has 41 members reckons it would be redundant if the Sena joins BJP. The Congress (42) has taken on the mantle of the Opposition party in the state.

The BJP does not appear to be fazed by the NCP’s veiled threat, BJP leaders said that the party did not take support from the NCP during the vote trust in state assembly on November 12. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “ The people of Maharashtra has voted my government for five years. The government is stable. We are confident of completing our full tenure fulfilling the aspirations of the people across Maharashtra.”

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Interestingly, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray also chided Pawar saying that Sharad Pawar says one thing and does another. ” He never walks the talk.” Sena (MP) Sanjay Raut added, “ The Shiv Sena can provide a stable government.”

Although NCP workers were amused at Pawar’s change of heart towards BJP, many are wondering if the hard talk was to isolate the BJP which has only 121 MLAs on one hand and and instill hopes within the Sena not to take a hasty decision on joining the government.

Ahead of 2014, assembly elections, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had hoped his party would emerge a single largest and he would also take the charge of chief minister. Another theory doing the rounds is that Pawar is sounding a warning to the BJP not to take the NCP’s public support for granted.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis reiterated, “BJP will always welcome Shiv Sena in government.”