Mumbai: While the BJP is yet to finalise its new chief minister in Maharashtra, rival parties are more than eager to lend support to the BJP government.
Former ally Shiv Sena has also softened its stand and shown readiness to support anyone chosen by the BJP as CM. Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party has made it clear that if the BJP fails to strike an alliance with the Sena and needs to move a confidence motion, the NCP will abstain during voting to ensure that a stable government can be formed in Maharashtra.
An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Monday said the party would support whoever is chosen by BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the next Maharashtra CM.
“We are happy with the BJP’s success in the Maharashtra elections. It is to Maharashtra’s benefit that the BJP will form the new government instead of scamsters belonging to the Congress and NCP.”
The Shiv Sena also received massive votes in Mumbai, Konkan, Marathwada, North Maharashtra and Kolhapur. “ We are thankful to people for that. Our stand is that Maharashtra should be undivided. For that, we will keep aside our political stand and support whoever the BJP chooses as chief minister,” the editorial said.
The Sena has credited the BJP’s success to Mr Modi and Mr Shah and advised state BJP leaders not to sweat over the new CM’s selection as it would be decided by the PM and Mr Shah.
However, so far there was no indication from the BJP on whether they want Shiv Sena’s support or not. BJP leader Vinod Tawde has said that the BJP wants Shiv Sena’s support, but that has to be unconditional.
The BJP and its alliance partners have won 123 seats. With seven independents and five MLAs from smaller parties already declaring their support for the BJP government, the party has support of 134 MLAs, which is ten short of the simple majority mark in the house of 288.
However, the party will be able to form a minority government even without Shiv Sena support as the NCP has decided not to vote on the confidence motion if it is moved in the Assembly.
NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “If Shiv Sena and BJP form post-poll alliance, they will have clear majority in the house. In case that does not happen, the NCP will not vote against the confidence motion and create instability in the state. We will not be part of the government, but we will abstain from voting.”
