BJP's Gujarat model at work in Maha: NCP on exits from oppn

With several opposition leaders joining the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena, the NCP alleged on Thursday that "Gujarat model" of politics was being implemented in Maharashtra.

NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said that despite this poaching by the ruling parties, the opposition's vote share will not go down in the coming Assembly polls.

"There are reports about some or the other Congress and NCP leader joining the Sena or BJP. But whoever has left the party, it is out of fear of losing polls or they are being pressurized or they have some expectations," Malik said.

"An impression is being created that Congress and NCP have become weak after these leaders left. It is a Gujarat model which the BJP is implementing in Maharashtra," he told reporters here.

Congress' Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil who was Leader of Opposition in Assembly, NCP MLAs Shivendrasinh Bhosale, Sandip Naik and Vaibhav Pichad joined the BJP recently.

NCP's Mumbai unit head Sachin Ahir, party legislator Pandurang Barora and Congress' Igatpuri MLA Nirmala Gavit have joined the Shiv Sena.

Malik, who has replaced Ahir as Mumbai NCP chief, said the BJP has 125 legislators in Gujarat -- 99 MLAs and 26 MPs. Around 60 per cent of them have Congress background, he said.

Since 2002, every time assembly polls were held in Gujarat, some opposition MLAs joined the ruling BJP, he said.

Yet, the Congress managed to poll 39.28 per cent, 38 per cent, 38.93 per cent and 41.43 per cent votes in Gujarat in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 Assembly polls, respectively, Malik added.

"No matter how many leaders BJP took away from the opposition in Gujarat, it did not affect Congress' vote share...voters did not go along with turncoats," he said.

"So it is a delusion to think that NCP and Congress will lose their vote share because of some leaders joining the BJP and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra," Malik added.

He also hit out at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for undertaking 'Mahajanadesh Yatra', a pre-poll outreach campaign, while people in flood-hit Kolhapur, Sangli and Konkan region need government's assistance.

"He should take out yatra through his party, but should also discharge his duty as chief minister," Malik said.