Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress on Tuesday said the state government is quite safe and stable and it will not collapse. They were unanimous that the BJP will not succeed to implement the ‘’Operation Lotus’’ in Maharashtra. They were reacting in wake of the turn of events in the Congress-ruled Madhya Pradesh especially after former union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned the party.
Incidentally, MVA government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray completed 100 days in office last week despite repeated deadlines issued by BJP for its collapse. MVA together has 170 legislators while BJP has 105 in the 288 member state assembly. Thackeray, who had addressed the MVA legislature party on February 24, may make a call this week or next week before the ongoing budget session concludes on March 20, asking party members to stay united.
Revenue Minister and Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Balasaheb Thorat told FPJ, "MVA government is stable. There is proper coordination among three partners who will foil BJP’s attempts to topple the government.’’
On the other hand, Minister of Minority Affair and NCP spokesman Nawab Malik alleged that the Madhya Pradesh episode has oncs again showed that BJP is keen to grab the power from even the backdoor which is quite unfair in democracy. ‘’MVA with ample number is stable. We do not want to start defection game. If we resume there are lot many, who had left Congress, NCP and NCP ahead of assembly election and joined BJP, are ready to return back,’’ he noted.
Former BJP minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the state of Maharashtra politics cannot be compared with Madhya Pradesh. He however, did not make any comment on BJP's 'Operation Lotus' plan in the state.
Thackeray, who has maintained a good rapport with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress acting president Sonia Gandhi, on February 24 had dismissed BJP’s claim of rift among MVA partners and asserted that there was smooth coordination among Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress. He also asked MVA partners to further strengthen coordination and cooperation.
Thackeray’s press advisor Harshal Pradhan also echoed CM’s views saying that the government is sailing smoothly.
