Why not alliance with NCP: MG Vaidya

Mumbai: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue M. G. Vaidya dropped a bomb on Maharashtra politics after supporting the idea of an alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra. His statement came after the junior party in the BJP-led government, Shiv Sena declared it would contest all upcoming elections independently.

After Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s announcement on January 26 declining alliance with the BJP in crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) elections as well as all other civic bodies and Zilla Parishad elections, ministers from his party started saying that they are ready to resign from the state government anytime. However, Mr Vaidya seems to have an answer to this situation, which has raised questions on the stability of Devendra Fadnavis-led government. “There is no wrong in going with the NCP to save the government. If Sena wants to leave, let them go,” said Mr Vaidya in Nagpur.

Mr Vaidya is a veteran RSS leader and has been one of the important voices in the decision-making processes of the organisation. His statement on the BJP-NCP alliance is being seen in the same light. In 2014, just after BJP won the assembly elections, Sharad Pawar-led NCP had proposed support to BJP for stability in state. Since then, political observers indicate that NCP is willing to support BJP if Sena leaves the house. In an assembly of 288 members, BJP has 122 MLAs, Sena 63, Cong 42 and NCP 41.