Nana Patole’s offer to Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar to join MVA sparks humour, BJP snubs him

Patole said, 'While Shinde feels that the elections were fought in his leadership, he deserves to be CM, Pawar too aspires to be CM, so we could make both of them CMs (on a rotation basis).'

Mumbai: In a statement that seems to have been made in lighter vein, senior Congress leader Nana Patole "offered" Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to join the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) front to form a new government and in return assured the post of Chief Minister to them.

The statement of Patole coincided with the Holi festivities.

Congress allies Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-headed NCP (SP) have distanced themselves from the suggestions of Patole, a former Maharashtra Congress president and ex-Speaker of Legislative Assembly.

The BJP, on the other hand, has pooh-poohed Patole for making such a statement.

Shinde, the chief leader of Shiv Sena and Ajit, the NCP president, are currently Deputy CMs in the Maha Yuti-NDA headed by BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis.

“The Congress is a national party. If the duo (Shinde and Pawar) joins us, we will support them. Both of them are quite keen on the CM's post at present…. while Shinde feels that the elections were fought in his leadership, he deserves to be CM, Pawar too aspires to be CM, so we could make both of them CMs (on a rotation basis),” said Patole.

"Their situation is not good. The BJP's ultimate game plan in every state is to take over alliance partners," said Patole.

In the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the BJP had won 132 seats and also has the support of half a dozen members of smaller parties and independents while partners Shiv Sena and NCP managed 57 and 41 seats.

In contrast, MVA has a poor tally with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning 20, Congress 16 and NCP (SP) 10 seats.

Revenue Minister and state BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the MVA has the mandate to be in Opposition benches. “They should do it for 15 years,” he said in a lighter vein.