Is Maharashtra heading for mid-term poll?

NCP chief Shard Pawar tweets that his party for mid-term assembly poll, hinting that the NCP is unlikely to support BJP if Shiv Sena pulls out from the state government...

The result for the Mumbai civic body elections could sound the poll bugle for state assembly elections, indicated Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday and asserted that his party was ready for a mid-term poll.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. (HT photo)

“NCP is ready to face mid-term polls in Maharashtra if such a situation emerges after February 23 (the day the results of Mumbai civic polls are announced),” Pawar tweeted on Monday.

His statement is being taken as a hint that the NCP is unlikely to support BJP if Shiv Sena pulls out from the state government.

“There won’t be any loss of Maharashtra if elections are held within two-and-a-half years,” Pawar added further.

His tweet assume significance as the NCP had declared unconditional support to the BJP government immediately after the results were declared for 2014 assembly elections, during which the BJP bagged 122 seats. To remain in power, the BJP needs 145 seats in the 288-member assembly.

In the run up to BMC polls, the ally turned foes, BJP and Sena, are targeting each other with no holds barred. Scaling up the attack, Sena leaders even hinted that the party may quit the state government, sparking in the political circles that Sena may withdraw support to the BJP-led state government after the BMC polls.