Shiv Sena needs to exit BJP-led NDA, says Nawab Malik
The NCP will be organising a meeting of newly-elected legislators on Tuesday to discuss the issues.
Mumbai: The Shiv Sena will have to break away from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in order to get Congress and NCP’s support for government formation in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday said.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that the Sena should decide and make an announcement that they are breaking ties. “Unless it leaves the NDA, we will wait and watch the developments. The Sena needs to ask its minister to resign from the Union government. Besides this, we have not received any proposal from the Sena,” said Mr Malik.
He further added, “Before extending support, the Sena-led government should decide on the core areas of work and functioning (in Maharashtra).” The NCP said that it would also take Congress in confidence
The NCP will be organising a meeting of newly-elected legislators on Tuesday to discuss the issues. A final call verdict would be given after the meeting on whether the NCP would extend support to Sena or not, the NCP leader added.
Mr Malik further said that his party does not have numbers and mandate to form the next government. Therefore, they would not stake a claim on it. “We are ready to sit in the Opposition, if the Se-na and BJP comes up with any formula to form the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday met the party’s newly elected MLAs from Maharashtra, who are staying at a resort in Jaipur, to discuss the political situation in the state while NCP chief Sharad Pawar met some of his party leaders in city.
Mr Kharge also met the MLAs informally to ascertain their views on what stand the party should take over government formation in Maharashtra. It is being said that he will then convey the sentiments of the legislators to the party high command.
Senior leaders like Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan and Balasaheb Thorat along with other newly-elected legislators were staying at the resort in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan amid fear of poaching in view of the stalemate over government formation.