Sharad Pawar at Grand Hyatt
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday claimed support of 162 MLAs in Maharashtra as the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine paraded a flock at the Grand Hyatt hotel. Pawar even exuded the confidence of getting more than 162 legislators on the day of the floor test. In unprecedented scenes, all the MLAs were administered oath of maintaining loyalties with the the trio and not falling prey to any inducements by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Addressing the gathering of MLAs, Pawar said: "There will be no problem in proving our majority. The one who is suspended from the party cannot give any orders. On the day of the floor test, I will bring more than 162 MLAs."
"We are here together for people of Maharashtra. A government was formed in the state without a majority. Karnataka, Goa and Manipur, BJP didn't have majority anywhere but formed government," the NCP chief added.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar told the gathering of MLAs that he would personally ensure that none of them loses membership for voting against the BJP during floor test in the Assembly.The NCP chief said BJP has tried unconstitutional ways to gain power in Goa and some other states.
"Maharashtra is not Goa and it is time to teach them a lesson," Pawar said.
"A misinformation is being spread that Ajit Pawar is the NCP's legislature party leader who would issue a whip to all (NCP) MLAs to vote for the BJP (in floor test). It is being said that whoever defies the whip would lose his membership of the House," Pawar said.
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