This is not Goa, says Sharad Pawar as Aghadi parades ‘162 MLAs’

MUMBAI: On the eve of the Supreme Court’s verdict on Maharashtra’s political conundrum, MLAs from the anti-BJP front gathered in a ‘majority’ show of strength at a city hotel. Standing in front of placards which read “We are 162,” legislators from Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress raised their arms and took a pledge to be loyal to the newly minted alliance and not be swayed by attempts to break them. The leaders said they were confident their ‘Maha Vikash Aghadi’ would win a floor test and come to power.
At the meet, top leaders from the three parties sat side by side. NCP chief Sharad Pawar was flanked by Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on one side and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on the other. Pawar, who arrived to resounding cheers, referred in his short address to BJP forming governments in Goa and Manipur without having the numbers. “This is not Goa, this is Maharashtra. If something wrong is done here, we will teach people a lesson,” he said. He also addressed a key concern among NCP legislators about whether a whip issued by rebel leader Ajit Pawar would still be valid in a floor test even though he had been replaced. Voting against the party whip invites action under the anti-defection law. “Actions taken by him are not binding on the party. We have consulted legal experts, and our MLAs need not have any worries about this,” Pawar said. The event was held at a hotel in Santacruz where NCP MLAs have been holed up together to prevent poaching.
Sena president Uddhav Thackeray arrived shortly after his legislators, who were in another city hotel, were brought to the venue. Speaking about the alliance, he said it was a long-term arrangement. “This alliance will last for 25-30 years,” he said.
Our alliance has arrived, declares Uddhav Thackeray
Taking a dig at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said, “Our alliance has arrived. We are not saying ‘I will return’.” This was a catchphrase used by Fadnavis during the election campaign to say he would return as the chief minister.
Congress leader Ashok Chavan said, “We are more than 162. Our strength is growing.” At the venue, besides Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena legislators, leaders of several small parties were present.
These included Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party, which has two MLAs, Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatna, which has one MLA and Bachchu Kadu’s Shiv Prahaar Sanghatna, which has two MLAs. Shiv Sena has 56 MLAs, Congress has 44, NCP 52, barring Ajit Pawar and one missing MLA. The alliance is claiming the support of ten others.
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References

1. ^{^} Shiv Sena (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
2. ^{^} Mallikarjun Kharge (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
3. ^{^} Devendra Fadnavis (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
4. ^{^} Ashok Chavan (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

from Times of India https://ift.tt/37Cr9Bb