'Had Balasaheb been alive...': Sharad Pawar's kin Rohit slams BJP-Sena

Sharad Pawar's grand nephew, Rohit Pawar lambasted the pre-poll saffron alliance over the delay in government formation in Maharashtra. The NCP leader called the "recent skirmishes" between BJP and Shiv Sena an "insult to democracy." In a Facebook-post, Pawar questioned if the BJP would have been "so brave" if the Shiv Sena patron, Balasaheb Thackeray was live today. He accused the BJP of "going against its word" after promising an equal share of power. 

The NCP leader wrote, "Maharashtra is blessed with many leaders who have earned the respect of the people. One such leader was honourable Balasaheb Thackeray. There are many reasons why I respect him. One major reason is his stature in national politics. Before elections, BJP promised to share equal power with Shiv Sena. But now BJP is going against its word. This brings us to the question that had Balasaheb Thackeray been alive today would BJP still be so brave?" 

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Accentuating how the rural and urban populace are worried with the absence of a government in the state, the NCP leader said that the farmers who were already hit by drought are now facing the lashing of rains. "Rural, as well as urban people, are facing many problems. There is a need to support the common man by forming the government at its earliest. The people have chosen us as the opposition. We have accepted the mandate and started working. But the recent skirmishes between BJP and Shiv Sena are an insult to democracy," Rohit Pawar said.

Rohit Pawar, who won the Karjat Jamkhed constituency in the Maharashtra state assembly elections wondered if the saffron alliance of the BJP and Shiv Sena would present a firm government for the next term, considering their ongoing power tussle.  "The people have already witnessed their conflicts while they were ruling the state. With numbers on their side, BJP is trying to create hurdles for Shiv Sena and the people have to witness their conflict again. The question remains if there are so many conflicts while deciding the marriage, how will their future be a happy alliance?" the NCP leader asked.

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Saffron alliance tussle 

The BJP won 105 seats in the Assembly polls, results of which were declared on October 24, while the Sena got 56. However, the two parties, which fought the polls in an alliance, have got caught in a stalemate over the chief minister's post, with the Sena demanding an equal division of the top post's tenure and the BJP rejecting it.

Earlier on Sunday, while addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed concern over the prolonged stalemate between the Shiv Sena and BJP over the formation of the Maharashtra Government. He said, " I feel that the stalemate over government formation will be sorted soon and everyone as to work for the interest of Maharashtra. At present, there is a grave crisis on the farmers of Maharashtra and at this point of crisis, the new government should be formed as early as possible because a caretaker government has some limitations in taking decisions. The government is taking all possible decisions and looking at the interest of the states, the new government shall be formed and I am hopeful of that."

Amidst the deadlock in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena senior leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that the party has 170 MLAs supporting them and that the figure can even reach 175.