Pawar asks NCP cadre to be ready for mid-term polls in Maharashtra

CM Devendra Fadnavis claims govt is stable and will complete its five year term

For his friends and political rivals, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar is known for his unpredictability. Barely a month after he announced outside support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for stability in Maharashtra, Pawar on Tuesday stunned party members and other political parties after he told his party cadre to be prepared for a snap poll.

Pawar, in his speech at party’s two-day workshop at Alibaug in Raigad district, said the stability of the Devendra Fadnavis-led government was not its responsibility. “Having a stable government in Maharashtra isn't NCP's responsibility. We have to be ready to face snap polls in Maharashtra,” Pawar said.

The NCP chief also said the present situation in Maharashtra was not congenial for long-term political stability. “If the political instability continues, then in four-six months the state may have to face polls, and that will not be good for Maharashtra,” he said.

Pawar also clarified that the NCP was neutral during the trust vote, won last week by the Fadnavis-led government in the Assembly. “We did not vote for or against the government,” said Pawar.

Reacting to Pawar’s statement predicting mid-term poll, Fadnavis said there was no instability in the government as no political party wants fresh election. “We are stable and the state government will complete its five-year tenure.”

Fadnavis said BJP’s talks with its former ally, Shiv Sena, continues.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena had failed to arrive at an agreement over the issue of sharing ministries, following which the latter voted against the government and decided to sit in the opposition.