Sharad Pawar defends NCP's outside support to BJP-led govt in Maharashtra

Maratha strongman clarifies that support will be issue based, decision taken unilaterally without any talks with BJP

Maratha strongman and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar strongly defended his party's decision to provide support from outside to BJP led government in the state. He strongly denies that the decision was not taken fearing any inquiry against NCP leaders into a slew of corruption cases and scams. Pawar said NCP's support will be issue based.

Pawar told Business Standard, ''NCP on its own has taken a decision to provide outside support to the BJP led government in Maharashtra. BJP has emerged as a single largest party and therefore in a position to provide a stable government in the state. We have not even discussed or negotiated with BJP on our offer to provide support from outside.''

He further said there was an option of NCP joining hands with Congress and Shiv Sena to form the government.

''However, Congress would not have been ready to such an understanding. Congress would have not taken a lead for Congress-NCP-Shiv Sena government. If Congress party had decided to support from outside, the experience has not been very encouraging. In the past, Congress withdrew support which led the collapse of the government. Therefore, NCP did not consider this option seriously,'' Pawar said. He informed NCP wanted to oppose BJP-Shiv Sena government to assume the power.

''Therefore, NCP unilaterally decided to provide support from outside to the BJP led government,'' he noted. Pawar reiterated that NCP would not join the BJP led government but will support from outside.

Further, Pawar completely denied that his party decided to provide support to the BJP led government from outside fearing inquiries into scams involving party leaders. ''What inquiries? Party leaders are not involved in corruption so there is no question of any fear of any probe,'' he added.