Sharad Pawar dares Uddhav to pull out of Maharashtra government

Says he’s ready give written assurance that NCP won’t back BJP, says Uddhav should do the same on his threat to pull out

With the Shiv Sena backing away from its threats to pull down the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday attempted to put pressure on Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Pawar said he was to give a guarantee in writing that his party would not support the BJP government if the Shiv Sena decided to withdraw its support, adding that Thackeray should also give a written assurance that he would withdraw his party’s support to the government.

With the Shiv Sena backing away from its threats to pull down the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday attempted to put pressure on Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.(HT)

“If Uddhav has no faith in me, I am ready to give in writing, and that too to the governor, that the NCP is not going to support the BJP government if Sena withdraws its support. But he [Uddhav] should also give in writing to the governor that he is pulling out of the Fadnavis government,” Pawar said, replying to a comment from Thackeray’s in which he said he didn’t trust Pawar.

Pawar added, “Uddhav Thackeray is not clear on withdrawing his support. Moreover, he has also left an escape route by announcing that he will support it for the full five-year term if the Fadnavis government waives farmers’ loans.”

Thackeray said recently, “We don’t trust Pawar. What is the guarantee that he will not support the BJP if we withdraw from the government?” he said. He made the comment after Pawar declared that the NCP would not support the government if the Sena pulled out, saying he would prefer facing mid-term polls to supporting the BJP government.

Doubts were raised about the stability of the Fadnavis government after Shiv Sena leaders began threatening to withdraw their support. Thackeray has said he will make a decision on whether to withdraw support to the Fadnavis government after the BMC elections.

Read

BMC polls are here: Mumbai’s parties rally support one last time