Maharashtra assembly: NCP seeks to emerge as key player in Oppn

Following the severe backlash it received after extending support to the BJP government, the NCP has decided to emerge as an aggressive Opposition party in the state.

Following the severe backlash it received after extending support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has decided to emerge as an aggressive Opposition party in the state.

By doing so, the party wishes to clear the air of suspicion and also aims to emerge superior to its former ally, the Congress.

Though the party is firm on its decision to extend support to the BJP government in the state, it has chalked out a plan that will help it emerge as the key Opposition party. By submitting a seven-page memorandum to chief mini ster Devendra Fadnavis, the party has set the ball rolling.

According to a party leader, the NCP has decided to send a clear message that public interest was its top-most priority.

“By announcing outside support to t he party, Pawarsaab has tried to assure stability in the state, but at the same time we have decided to occupy the space of the major Opposition party. You will witness the team of party MLAs cornering the state government under the leadership of our legislative leader Ajit Pawar. The Congress may become the major Opposition party if the Shiv Sena joins the government, but our party will be more aggressive on t he social i ssues,” t he leader said, on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

A team of senior party leaders met Fadnavis on Sunday demanding an immediate respite to the farmers in distress because of the drought- like situation, by waiving of crop loans, power bills, setting up of cattle camps, fair and remunerative prices to cotton and sugarcane growers.

“It is high time the government undertake immediate measures to offer respite to the farmers in despite. We are also worried about the rampant cases of atrocities against the people from the lower castes. We have demanded the accused in the Javkheda case of Dalit atrocity be caught immediately and the case to be tried in the fast track court,” Ajit said.

He said the party extended support to the government with intention of stability in the state, but it will not spare the government on the issues directly related to the common man.