BJP, Shiv Sena should form govt in Maharashtra, NCP-Congress will be responsible opposition, says Sharad Pawar

Addressing media on Maharashtra impasse, NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said, “I don't have anything to say yet. BJP and Shiv Sena have got the mandate of people, so they should form the government as soon as possible. Our mandate is to play the role of Opposition. I have been CM four times, not keen on that post again.”

Ruling out any alliance with Shiv Sena to form the government in Maharashtra, Sharad Pawar said, “ Where is the question of a Shiv Sena-NCP government? They (BJP-Shiv Sena) are together for the last 25 years, today or tomorrow they will come together again.”

He added that for the formation of the government there is only one option that BJP and Shiv Sena come together. “This is the only option to avoid President's rule,” he said.

Regarding his meeting with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, he said that they discussed the upcoming Rajya Sabha session and the issues on which their parties can have similar stands.

About the speculations regarding Ahmed Patel- Gadkari meeting, the veteran politician said, it must have been “about some road work”.

On a question that Sanjay Raut has claimed that Shiv Sena has the support of 170 members in the 288-member assembly, the NCP leader hinted that this number did not include either NCP or the Congress members. “Even I want to ask Sanjay Raut how he will get 170,” Sharad Pawar said.

He also talked about the plight of the farmers whose crop has been ruined in the rain and about insurance companies not paying for the crop damage and appealed to the Finance Ministry to intervene and help farmers.