All NCP MLAs backing Fadnavis, many Shiv Sena MLAs may join: BJP leader

Political developments and statements are coming in thick and fast on Saturday, hours after Devendra Fadnavis took oath as Maharashtra chief minister for the second time, with the support of NCP leader Ajit Pawar.

Even as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who is the uncle of Ajit, declared the party did not endorse his nephew's decision, a former BJP minister declared the saffron party has the support of over 170 MLAs, including all NCP MLAs. In the recently concluded Assembly polls in Maharashtra, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 105 seats in the 288-member Assembly, while its pre-poll ally, the Shiv Sena, secured 56 seats. The NCP was the third-largest party with 54 seats and the Congress secured 44 seats.

Girish Mahajan, who was minister of water resources in the first Fadnavis government, told mediapersons on Saturday that Ajit Pawar had presented a letter to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari about NCP MLAs supporting the Fadnavis government.

Mahajan was quoted by ANI as saying, "We will prove our majority with support of over 170 MLAs. Ajit Pawar has given a letter to governor about support of his MLAs and as he is legislative party leader of NCP, which means all NCP MLAs have supported us".

The Fadnavis government faces a floor test on November 30.

Mahajan, who had been a key political pointman in the first Fadnavis government, poured scorn on NCP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. Mahajan claimed even Shiv Sena MLAs were frustrated with Raut and "they may also think of going with us". Mahajan claimed, "Verbal diarrhoea will be the right phrase to use for him (Sanjay Raut). Even many Shiv Sena MLAs are frustrated with him and they may also think of going with us."

Interestingly, Raut had declared previously that a proposed non-BJP alliance led by the Shiv Sena would have support of 170 MLAs in the 288-member Assembly.