JOIN USThe Congress has been stumped by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar’s claim that a party leader had suggested to him to prop up a Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra.
Pawar claimed that he had rejected the Maharashtra Congress leader’s suggestion stating that such a government would not last long.
The Congress was quick to dismiss Pawar’s statement which added an element of intrigue, albeit briefly, to the fluid political situation in Maharashtra in the wake of a hung verdict in the last week’s Assembly elections.
“It is preposterous. The Congress party has never in the past supported parties like the Shiv Sena and will never support it in the future too,” All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Communications Ajay Maken told reporters here.
In Pawar’s statement, the Congress saw NCP’s desperate attempt to cling on to power despite its loss in the Assembly elections.
The NCP finished fourth with 41 seats in the 288-member Assembly.
‘Congress will rise again’
“In the past as well, the Congress has bounced back after playing the role of a vigilant opposition. We intend to play this role even now,” Maken said.
Pawar had caused a flutter by declaring unconditional support to the saffron party to form the government in Maharashtra after it emerged as the single largest party with 122 seats, but short of a simple majority.
The Congress had wondered whether the BJP would seek the support of a political outfit which Prime Minister Modi had dubbed as “Naturally Corrupt Party” during the election campaign. The Congress has alleged the NCP was offering support to avoid investigations by the BJP-led government into allegations of corruption against its former ministers.