Mumbai: Maha Vikas Aghadi govt's fate will be decided in Assembly, says NCP chief Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar briefs media after MLA meeting at YB Chavan in Mumbai. Pic/Atul Kamble

On Thursday, NCP president Sharad Pawar stated that the fate of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government (MVA) will be decided on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. He also mentions that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition will prove its majority in a trust vote.

Amid the political turmoil caused by the rebellion by Sena minister Eknath Shinde and other Sena MLAs, Pawar also asserted that the BJP has played a role in the crisis that has befallen the Uddhav Thackeray-led government.

"The fate of the MVA government will be decided in the Assembly, not in Guwahati (where the rebels are camping). The MVA will prove its majority on the floor of the House," Pawar said.

He was replying to a question about whether the MVA has been reduced to a minority as the Shinde-led rebel faction has claimed the support of 37 Shiv Sena MLAs and ten Independent legislators. Asked about deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's statement that he did not see the BJP's role in the rebellion within the Sena, Pawar said he did not agree with his nephew.

"Ajit Pawar may have said so because he does not know BJP leaders from outside Maharashtra. I know them. Even Eknath Shinde has said a national party has assured him of all assistance,' Pawar said.

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"As other national parties like BSP, CPM, CPI, Congress and NCP have no role to play in destabilizing the MVA, Shinde was referring only to the BJP," he added.

The rebel MLAs will have to come back to Mumbai and face the Assembly, he said, adding that BJP leaders "from Gujarat and Assam will not be coming here to guide them."

Pawar also refuted allegations by rebel Shiv Sena MLAs that they faced difficulties in getting funds for their constituencies as the finance ministry, which is controlled by NCP's Ajit Pawar, discriminated against them, and the Sena has given up its Hindutva ideology.

"All these are excuses, some of these MLAs are facing probe by central agencies," he said.

He further added, ''These rebels will face the same fate."

(with inputs from PTI)