Maharashtra: BJP MLA Pravin Darekar Hints At 'Operation Lotus' In State

A close associate of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said several NCP (Sharad Pawar) MPs could desert the party in the wake of its poor performance in the assembly election.

BJP MLA Pravin Darekar indicated that his party could once again carry out ‘Operation Lotus’ in the state.

Many MPs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), particularly those from Sharad Pawar’s NCP, represent constituencies where the BJP-led alliance secured the majority of seats in the assembly election.

“With the BJP-led alliance holding power at both the central and state levels, these MPs may need to reassess their political future if development remains their primary focus,” Darekar said.

Darekar’s statement stirred up political speculation in the state. Currently, MPs from NCP (Sharad Pawar) are in Delhi. Many of them were present at a meeting held last night with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections, the NCP, under Sharad Pawar’s leadership, contested 10 seats and secured victory in eight. Among these MPs is Pawar’s daughter, Supriya Sule.

NCP (SP) leader Vidya Chavan dismissed Darekar’s claims as baseless. Chavan pointed out that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was formed with critical support from allies like Nitish Kumar’s JDU and Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and it may fear losing that support, prompting such remarks. She further asserted that NCP MPs remain steadfast and will not betray the alliance.

Why does BJP needs 'Operation Lotus'?

To form the government in the Lok Sabha, the BJP required 272 seats but won only 240. Key allies like Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, which secured 16 seats, and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), with 12 seats, contributed a total of 28 seats to the new government. However, there is no guarantee that these allies will remain with the BJP in the long term.

This uncertainty may prompt the BJP to carry out ‘Operation Lotus’ to stabilise its position at the Centre.