After losing out on the opportunity of forming a government in Maharashtra, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed a joint press conference on Saturday along with other senior party leaders on Saturday.
In an early morning twist, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis had sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister for a second time at Raj Bhavan. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in as deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.
Addressing a joint press conference with Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said that his nephew Ajit Pawar’s decision to join hands with the BJP was an act of indiscipline, and no NCP worker is in favour of this government.
“Except for Ajit Pawar, none of the other NCP MLAs went for the swearing-n the ceremony. A true NCP member will never ever join hands with the BJP.” said Pawar.
Sharad Pawar added that the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance is still active and all the elected MLAs have given their support to this alliance. “Some people of the NCP called me in the morning saying that they have reached Raj Bhawan along with Ajit Pawar,” said Sharad Pawar.
The NCP supremo said that there will action against Ajit Pawar. He added that the decision on action against Ajit Pawar will be taken at the party meeting later today.
“Our discipline committee will take action against all those who have participated in the swearing-in ceremony today. All the MLAs who are going must know that there is an anti-defection law and the possibility of them losing their assembly membership is high,” Sharad Pawar added.
Sharad Pawar also said that the Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP leaders had come together to form Government and had the numbers that had supported the new government. “Several independents were also with us and we had numbers around 170,” he added.
Pawar also added that they cannot rule out a possibility of “cheating by the governor”. Ajit Pawar may have submitted ‘ready-made’ list of NCP MLAs, he added.
Four-time NCP MLA Rajendra Shingane said that they were “misled” by Ajit Pawar. He added, “None of us there had any idea of what was happening, we were taken to Raj Bhawan by Ajit Pawar. This was the case of misunderstanding and of not knowing what was really going on.”
Another NCP MLA Sandeep Shivsagar echoed similar statements after he said, “We did not know anything about the oath-taking ceremony. As soon as the swearing-in happened I called up Sharad Pawar”.
Continuing his attack on the BJP, Pawar said that saffron party has always believed in forming an alliance with anyone and in any manner to come to power. But NCP can never join hands with BJP, said Sharad Pawar.
“We are firm that the leadership of this government should stay with Shiv Sena. Governor has given time till 30th to prove majority. We will all be together with them. Congress leaders were to come, but their LLP meeting is today. So they gave gone there,” added Sharad Pawar.
Speaking at the press conference, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray launched an attack on its former ally BJP, stating, “The child play in the name of democracy is laughable. They should stick Fevicol and sit there. Instead of saying, I will come back, he should have said, I won’t ever go.” Uddhav added that the BJP did the same thing in Haryana and Bihar.
Thackeray added that the BJP did not want opposition or friends. They are narcissistic. Nobody should try to backstab us, said Shiv Sena chief who was visibly angry at the BJP.
Calling the BJP government formation as a ‘furgical strike’, Uddhav Thackeray asked the BJP not to “ploy midnight plots”.
“Earlier EVM Khel (game) was going on and now this is new Khel (game). From here onwards I don’t think elections are even needed. Everyone knows what Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj did when betrayed and attacked from the back,” said Uddhav Thackeray.
