NCP chief Sharad Pawar talking to reporters amid Maharashtra crisis
Mumbai:
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar today expressed confidence that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will survive the storm unleashed by rebel MLA Eknath Shinde, who claimed the support of over 40 MLAs.
“A floor test will decide who has the majority,” Mr Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party, or MVA, is an ally of the Shiv Sena, told reporters this evening.
“Everyone knows how the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs were taken to Gujarat and then to Assam (both BJP ruled). We don’t need to name those who helped them… the Assam government is helping them,” he said. I do not need to take any further names,” Mr. Pawar said.
Sources said that only 13 MLAs turned up today for a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, while rebel MLA Mr Shinde in a video to prove that he has the upper hand, at least 42 MLAs from Guwahati in Assam. Shown camping in the hotel.
Sources said that in a last-ditch effort to save the ruling Maharashtra alliance, Team Thackeray has decided to file an appeal with the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly seeking disqualification of 15 rebel MLAs.
Shiv Sena cannot take steps to disqualify 30 or more MLAs, however, this will come half way down, which will benefit the BJP. It appears that Shiv Sena’s drama goes to disqualify some rebels to discourage them from facing elections, so they are forced to return.
“The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs will have to come to Mumbai… because if the minority is the Maha Vikas Aghadi, they will have to come to the assembly… and who will support them once they come to the assembly? Will BJP leaders from Gujarat and Assam come to support him in the assembly? Mr Pawar said.