BJP-Shiv Sena govt to survive; NCP won't join govt: Pawar

NCP chief says the situation in the country has become alarming because of rising intolerance

Nationalist Congress Parrty (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar today said the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra would survive despite an ongoing spat between the two parties over various issues. But he made it clear that the NCP would not join the state government even if BJP's junior partner Shiv Sena decided to part ways.

Pawar said the NCP had extended support to the BJP-led government after the assembly elections "to ensure stability in the state". But the situation has now "changed drastically", he said, reiterating that the NCP will neither support nor join the government in the state. 

Pawar said the current political situation in the country and in Maharashtra is "quite alarming due to increasing intolerance". The NCP chief said even though the law and order is a state subject, the Centre must intervene in case of major incidents and take adequate measures. His obvious reference was to the recent Dadri killing and the smearing of ink on the face of former BJP member Sudheendra Kulkarni.

Pawar strongly criticised the state government for doing little for those affected by the drought in Maharashtra. He accused the state government of not even paying the fees of schoolchildren from drought-hit districts.