The NCP today said a no-confidence motion against the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra could be brought by opposition after Shiv Sena withdraws support, which it thinks is a remote possibility.
"Shiv Sena has been in the opposition mode since last two years despite sharing power with the BJP in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena should quit the government and then the opposition can bring a no confidence motion.
"But it is unlikely that the Sena will withdraw support," NCP state unit president Sunil Tatkare told reporters while responding to a query.
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His comments come at a time when Sena and BJP are locked in a keen battle to control BMC, the country's richest civic body, and for installing their Mayor in it.
The budget session of the state legislature begins on March 6.
Though Sena, a junior partner of the BJP at the Centre and the state, had contested the civic polls after dumping it, anticipating a bumper harvest in terms of number of seats, however, the BMC polls threw up a hung verdict.
Sena emerged as the single largest party in BMC with 84 seats, the BJP came close second by pocketing 82 seats. Neither of the party is in a position to capture power on its own as they lack requisite numbers to reach 114 mark required to rule the 227-member civic body.
In this scenario, the role of parties like Congress (31), NCP (9), MNS (7), SP (6) MIM (3), Independents (4), ABS (Akhil Bhartiya Sena) (1) has become crucial.
The murmur about no trust motion started amid speculation that Sena may like to precipitate matters for the BJP, which has completed almost half of its term.
In the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, BJP has 123 MLAs while Sena has 63 MLAs, Congress (42) and NCP 41.
Congress leader Mohammed Arif Naseem Khan had said yesterday that all options, including a no-confidence motion, are open before the party.
Meanwhile, taking a dig, Tatkare said the Congress should spell its stand on whether it will support Sena for installing Mayor.
As per reports, Sena has opened back-channel talks with the Congress for propping up its Mayor, though the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has officially denied any such overture.
The Mayoral election will be held early next month.
However, the Mumbai unit Congress president Sanjay Nirupam had dismissed talks of supporting Sena, categorically saying that his party would support none of the saffron parties in their bid to capture BMC.
Meanwhile, Tatkare said, "Congress and NCP are in talks for (tie up) the post of Zilla Parishad presidents in state."
He alleged the BJP-Sena government has failed to provide relief to farmers who are not getting good price for their produce "despite having a strong majority of 190 legislators.
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