Mumbai: With Shiv Sena deciding to contest on its own in the upcoming city corporations and other civic polls across Maharashtra, focus has shifted to the stability of the BJP-led government in the state, in which the Uddhav Thackeray-led party is a junior ally. A day after Mr Thackeray on Thursday declared his party’s stand after the seat-sharing talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party floundered, the party’s senior minister in the Cabinet, Ramdas Kadam, on Friday said he and his colleagues have their resignations “in their pockets”.
Industries minister Subhash Desai said at the Sena meeting held in Goregaon east on Thursday, “We are ready with packed bags. If necessary, we will walk out of the government.” Another senior minister and Sena’s Thane strongman Eknath Shinde said, “Everything, including ministry (berths) is given by party and party chief. If he orders, we will not wait for a minute to resign”.
But BJP is underplaying these statements. BJP sources said the party is “pretty sure” about the stability of the government. “Sena will not walk out. Calling off alliance is only limited to elections and not power in Centre and state,” said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity. He sarcastically added, “Did they resign from central government at the time of Assembly elections? Then why would they leave us (now)?” One party eagerly observing the development is Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
After learning about Sena’s decision of parting ways with BJP for the civic polls, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has declined to spell out clearly what stand his party would take in case Sena pulls out of the government. Parrying queries on the matter, the veteran politician on Thursday refused to answer hypothetical questions. But at the same time, he didn’t forget to add, “They should take the decision and later come for the discussion.” Significantly, NCP had pledged outside support to BJP when it emerged as the single largest party but fell short of absolute majority in the 2014 Assembly polls.
Meanwhile reacting to the development, Mr Fadnavis said through microblogging site Twitter, “Change will happen in the state, irrespective of whoever comes along with the BJP”. Maharashtra BJP chief Raosaheb Danve has claimed the BJP-led government is stable and will complete its full five-year term.
Anticipating Sena’s high voltage attack in the coming days, BJP too has gone on the offensive. Party leader and Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya said they would come out with a black paper on alleged scams in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). “We will publish the connection of cartel in garbage scams and roads scams very soon,” said Mr Somaiya.
