Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat has taken a strident position in response to NCP leader Ajit Pawar joining the BJP alongside other NCP leaders. If it does, the Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde, will not be a part of the Maharashtra government.
Mr Shirsat, whose party shares power with the Bharatiya Janata Party, told reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday that he believes the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won’t join the BJP directly.
“Our policy is crystal clear on this.” The NCP is a traitorous party. We will not be with the NCP, even when it is in power. If the BJP takes the NCP with them, Maharashtra will not like it. We decided to leave an undivided Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray because people were against us sharing power with the Congress and the NCP.
He further added that Ajit Pawar is tight-lipped, which means he doesn’t like to be part of the NCP.
The Shiv Sena categorically stated that “we left the Maha Vikas Aghadi government where Ajit Pawar was not able to work freely.” Therefore, if he leaves the party, we welcome him. But if he wants to join with a group of NCP leaders, then we will not be in the government.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently appointed Mr Shirsat as the Shiv Sena’s spokesperson.
The Devendra Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar formed government in Maharashtra in November 2019, but it lasted just for three days.