Maharashtra Turmoil: NCP Extends Support To CM Uddhav, Congress Says 'Can Back MVA From Outside'

Both Congress and NCP held separate meetings and ruled out the possibility of the CM's demitting office. The parties also expressed optimism that the political crisis would be defused soon.

Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai. (Image: PTI)

Amid the wide specualtions of collapse of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, two of the alliance parters Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have extended their support to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena stating that the incumbent state government will complete its five-year term. Both Congress and NCP held separate meetings and ruled out the possibility of the CM's demitting office. The parties also expressed optimism that the political crisis would be defused soon.

Speaking to media, NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said that his party will stand with CM Thackeray till the end and pointed out that NCP is keeping an eye on the current political situation.

When asked about Sanjay Raut's statement of Shiv Sena mulling to exit MVA, Ajit Pawar said, "It is the responsibility of all the three parties (NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena) to save the government. Only Sanjay Raut knows why he made such a statement."

"Shiv Sena MLAs go to other states and the police here do not even know. This in a way is an intelligence failure," Pawar added.

"We stand with CM Uddhav Thackeray and will support him till the last moment... We have numbers for the government as no MLA of Shiv Sena has resigned nor Shiv Sena has expelled anyone from the party," NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal told reporters after the party meeting in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Congress said that if time comes then it can provide support to the Maha Vikas Aghadi govt from outside as well. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole told reporters that it was their regular meeting and not happened on the statement of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

Furthermore, Patole also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to destabilise the government in Maharashtra and split Shiv Sena. 

"BJP is trying to destabilise the government and split Shiv Sena. We are working on how to sort this out. Maha Vikas Aghadi govt will continue and will complete 5 years. We are keeping an eye on the situation," he said.