Will sit in opposition if BJP wants NCP support, says Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena on Sunday stated that the party would sit in the opposition if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were to take the support of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to form the state government in Maharashtra, giving the BJP three days to give their answer.

"The BJP needs to make it clear whether they want to take the support of the NCP directly or indirectly to form the state government. However, if the BJP wishes to go with the NCP, then we shall have to part ways with them," Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray told the media.

"We want a stable government in Maharashtra. However, that doesn't mean will we support a party which takes the support of people who speak of 'saffron terrorism'," he added, pointing to the 2008 Malegaon blasts.

Thackeray also reminded the assembled of the 1996 Lok Sabha elections, where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to resign after only 13 days after he was unable to form the government.

"The 13-day government of Atal ji fell apart because of [NCP chief] Sharad Pawar; today they want to go with the same party," he said.

Speaking of the defection of former Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu to the BJP, Thackeray said that his father had recommended Prabhu's name to Vajpayee.

"When Atal ji had asked Balasaheb [Bal Thackeray] to name a minister, he mentioned Suresh Prabhu's name. It is unfortunate that today he has joined BJP," he said.

The Shiv Sena had earlier broken its alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra prior to the assembly polls. The BJP emerged as the single largest party but was unable to reach majority status.