Sign in

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

Updated on: Feb 19, 2017, 01:29:04 IST
Hindustan Times | By , Mumbai
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

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)
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

  • Faisal Malik
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Faisal Malik

    Faisal Malik is a senior journalist with over two and a half decades of experience covering Maharashtra’s politics, governance and public policy with a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape. He is a Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times and has been associated with its Mumbai edition for more than a decade. Based in Mumbai, Faisal currently covers three major political parties in Maharashtra — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). Over the years, he has extensively reported on major political developments, combining investigative insights with in-depth field reporting. His coverage has spanned a wide range of issues, from drought, farmer suicides, major development projects and grassroots challenges to major electoral battles, including three Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections — 2014, 2019 and 2024. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’. An avid tea enthusiast, he enjoys reading history, Urdu literature and classical poetry. When away from the newsroom, he writes Urdu poetry inspired by human emotions, life's experiences, meaningful reflections and relationships. An amateur photographer, Faisal is passionate about capturing moments that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.Read More