One may have thought that NCP would jump the wagon and persuade BJP for being a part of the power seat, especially after it split with Congress, but to be so opportunistic was not what anyone would have taken NCP for.
When the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) announced, without provocation, that it will support the Bhartiya Janata Party to form a stable government in Maharashtra, it came as a big surprise even for the winning party.
During the vitriolic campaign, leaders from both the political parties were involved in war of words. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it a point to accuse NCP of corruption in every single of his speeches.
One may have thought that NCP would jump the wagon and persuade BJP for being a part of the power seat, especially after it split with Congress, but to be so opportunistic was not what anyone would have taken NCP for.
So why is NCP so desperate to join BJP?
Well, for starters, and obvious, NCP would like to remain closer to the power seat that living at the mercy of BJP.
Also, it would and can do anything to keep the local Shiv Sena from power which becomes a possibility given the current assembly election results.
After all, BJP is more likely to go for old ally than new friend for government formation. But with NCP extending outside support and Shiv Sena already hammered its relations with BJP may make the go do the work.
Second, NCP needs government support to retain clout in cooperatives sector – a position enjoyed by the party and its chief Sharad Pawar – that also drives rural economy. Congress will prove to be a big rival here and what would be more better than to have the government by your side.
Next in line is the great revelation by former CAG Vinod Rai through his book which claims that former aviation minister and NCP leader Praful Patel deliberately put Air India through loss. In addition to this are other corruption charges to deal with.
The biggest in the line is the investigation on irrigation scam. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had recently asked for permission for an open inquiry against former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior leader Sunil Tatkare in connection with the irrigation scam.
So, here we have, NCP being so sweet and helping out BJP for the “stability of Maharashtra” for it wants its own stability, desperately.
