NCP's 'invisible hands' are supporting BJP: Sena

The Shiv Sena has claimed that "invisible" hands of the NCP are supporting its senior ruling ally, the BJP, with a party MLC today citing "various instances" in ongoing session of the state legislature wherein the Sharad Pawar-led party has "backed" the BJP.
After Presidential polls, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that "invisible hands" would support his government in Maharashtra if it is in trouble, which was viewed as a reference to the NCP.
Sena MLC Anil Parab claimed the "invisible hands" that are supporting the ruling BJP are that of the NCP.
"The NCP has proved this by opposing the privilege motion moved by me against Education Minister Vinod Tawde in the Upper House recently," he said, adding that the NCP had even praised the chief minister in the Assembly.

Parab moved a breach of privilege motion against Tawde on August 1 over the delay in declaration of results by the Mumbai University (MU) despite the minister's earlier assurance that they will be declared on time.
Meanwhile, another Sena MLC claimed the "cosiness" between the BJP and the NCP has grown in the last few days.

"We wanted to prove to everybody whose invisible hands the BJP is banking upon. The NCP opposed my privilege motion and tried and shield the government on various other issues. In the Lower House as well it was NCP members who praised the CM," Parab told PTI.

Senior NCP MLC Sunil Tatkare, who is also Maharashtra unit president of the party, stood in support of Tawde in Upper House on Wednesday against Parab.
Also today, when the Congress and the NCP members were aggressively demanding the resignation of Housing Minister Prakash Mehta, Tatkare suddenly "diverted" the issue towards the delay in declaration of results by the Mumbai University, the Sena MLC said.
He said NCP's Jayant Patil had sung a song which has gone viral on social media in the Assembly. The song "Sonu tuza BMC var bharavsa nahi ka"? (Sonu, don't you trust the BMC?). The song, popularised by an RJ on social media, had riled the Sena which is in power in the Mumbai civic body.

"The act of praising the BJP and the chief minister by Jayant Patil, Tatkare and (Dhananjay) Munde--all NCP--proves that the invisible hands supporting the BJP are that of the NCP," Parab said.
Responding to Parab's claim, Tatkare said he wanted to "expose" the Sena when Parab had moved the motion.
"As per the rule, seven members should stand in favour of such a motion. I want to see whether Sena ministers stood by Parab despite being in the government," Tatkare said, questioning how could a member of the ruling party move a privilege motion against his own government?
"Being a member of the Opposition party, it was my duty to expose them. This should not be taken as if we are supporting the BJP," Tatkare added.