Congress had proposed to support Shiv Sena-led govt: Sharad Pawar

The NCP says its support from outside to the BJP government is without compromising its ideology. Sanjay Jog reports

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said a senior Maharashtra Congress leader had proposed their parties jointly support the Shiv Sena in forming a government in the state. The NCP rejected the proposal, saying such a government would not last long.

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Pawar’s nephew and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar also said a state Congress leader had telephoned his uncle seeking support for a Shiv Sena-led government. However, Ajit, who was on Monday elected NCP legislative wing leader, said his party did not consider it as there was no proposal from the Congress central leadership.

“When the Congress supports a government from outside, the experience has not been encouraging. In the past, the Congress withdrew support. If the Congress does it again in Maharashtra, it would lead to fresh polls,” Pawar said, adding, “This is not a workable proposition.”

Further, Pawar said the NCP wanted a Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government. “The NCP unilaterally decided to provide support from outside to the BJP-led government,” he added and pointed out the decision was taken in the larger interest of the state without compromising the party’s ideology. Ajit and state unit chief Sunil Tatkare said the NCP would not join the government.

The Congress has alleged the NCP is offering support to avoid investigations by the BJP-led government into allegations of corruption against its former ministers. “There has been criticism against me in connection with the irrigation scam. A special investigation team has submitted its report. Let there be an inquiry,” Ajit Pawar said.

The Congress will convene a meeting of its legislators in the next two days to elect a legislative wing leader. State unit chief Manikrao Thakre, who resigned owning responsibility for the Congress’ rout, told Business Standard, “The Congress will play the role of a responsible opposition. There is no question of joining or supporting the BJP or Shiv Sena government.”

Thakre added that leaders would meet the party’s central leadership and submit a report on the performance. A newly elected Congress legislator said there was talk within the party of joining the BJP, “however, it will not be easy considering the anti-defection law”.

Congress has described as "preposterous" the claims by the NCP that they approached them to jointly support Shiv Sena to form a government in Maharashtra.

"It is preposterous. The Congress Party has never in the past supported parties like Shiv Sena and will never support it in the future too," Congress General Secretary in-charge of the communication department Ajay Maken said in a statement.

There are parties who have never remained out of power and they may still like to be in power, but the Congress Party in the past also has bounced back after playing the role of a vigilant opposition.

With BJP in the process of forming government in Maharashtra, Maken also took potshots at it, questioning whether it will ally with a "Nationalist Corrupt Party", a name given to NCP by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the campaigning.

"It is for the BJP to now decide whether it will join hand with the 'Hafta Wasuli Party' or the 'Naturally Corrupt Party'.

"They also need to explain as to what has happened in two days time that has changed their hearts," Maken said.

With inputs from PTI

Image: NCP chief Sharad Pawar