Mumbai:
Trying to boost the morale of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena MLAs now put up at Hotel Grand Hayatt in Andheri East, NCP president Sharad Pawar assured them that they need not worry about losing their membership and that their concern was his responsibility. “This is not Goa. This is Maharashtra”, he remarked. He said this while addressing the joint gathering of 162 MLAs of Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena MLAs at the Five Star Hotel in suburban Mumbai on Monday evening.
The NCP chief stated that the MLAs are being scared, that Ajit Pawar will issue the whip and wean them to his side. “But the one who has been removed from his post by the party (NCP), he has no powers to do so. Those who fear that they might lose their membership, they need not worry. I take their responsibility. The one who has been removed from the post does not have the right to issue the whip. The one (Ajit Pawar) who has gone against the party, has no authority to issue any directive regarding the party. They have formed the government in the wrong manner, despite not having the majority. This is not Goa, this is Maharashtra. No wrong thing will be tolerated here”, remarked Sharad Pawar.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray while addressing the legislators remarked “our foundation is expanding. This visual cannot be captured in one camera only. Those who have darkness in their heads, will find light being shed. Our slogan is Satyamev Jayate, and that it should be so”. Maharashtra Pardesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Balasaheb Thorat described Sena leader Sanjay Raut as the “Man of the Match”.
While senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan contended “a stable government of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP shall assume power. We have given support letter of 162 MLAs to the Governor. Our support strength has reached the majority mark”. In his speech NCPs Dhananjay Munde made it clear that while he had love and affection for Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar was his supreme leader. Earlier, NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad administered oath of allegiance to the gathered 162 MLAs. A claim which is being disputed by private news channels which are putting the figure at 137.
Reacting to the show of unity and strength put up by the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena, former Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, Ashish Shelar remarked “their childish act is being witnessed by entire Maharashtra. By conducting a identification parade, one cannot prove majority. It is yet another poor attempt at inflating the lost confidence. The biggest humiliation is Aditya Thackeray swearing faith in the leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi”.
Taking further pot-shots at the MLA identification parade, the BJP leader remarked “photographer is yours, photo is yours and BJP shall do a Photo Finish. The identification parade is like identifying the criminal from the crowd. They have not only insulted the MLA elected by the people, but also of the people. Those who claimed to have support of 162 MLAs, can they answer whether there were at least 145 MLAs in presence? The entire state has witnessed a scene which will make the people of Maharashtra hang their heads in shame. The Sena has shown what it can do for the sake of power. The hollow Hindutva of Sena stands exposed today”.
