United Oppn should defeat MLAs who defect to BJP: Pawar

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar today said a united Opposition should ensure defeat of those MLAs who defect to BJP.

"If few MLAs defect from our party and plan to join BJP, we all should join hands and defeat such candidates," Pawar said while addressing a meeting of Congress, NCP and other opposition parties here.

"In the last two years, BJP has tried to create a confusion among the MLAs of NCP and Congress by continously stating that some of them would defect to BJP.

"If something like this happens, we will field only one candidate against the defector and ensure his or her defeat," Pawar said.
 

Leaders of AIMIM, PWP and independents too were present for the meeting with Pawar.

Meanwhile, Pawar said he was also in touch with Shiv Sena, which is having a strained relationship with the BJP.

"As BJP and Shiv Sena are having strained relations I have told Sena leaders that we will support the party if any of its MLA defects to BJP.

"In such a situation, NCP and Congress will support the Shiv Sena candidate to ensure defeat of the defected MLA," Pawar said.

The BJP in Maharashtra is mulling an option of a snap poll to keep its troublesome ally Shiv Sena away and secure majority on its own strength.

Many in BJP believe that the situation was conducive to secure a majority on its own in the state.

A meeting of the state BJP's core committee here last evening dwelt on a set of possible scenarios including the interim polls.

"BJP has succeeded in creating a confusion among the Opposition in last two years and it helped the party to run a hassle free government. But, we must unite against BJP and counter it," Pawar said.