Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said his party was ready for mid-term polls though he doesn’t see the possibility of the state BJP government reducing to minority in the wake of the threat by estranged ally Shiv Sena to walk out of government.
Commenting on the evolving political scenario in the state following the rupture of the alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), Vikhe Patil said he didn’t see the possibility of the Devendra Fadnavis government getting reduced to minority.
He predicted the Congress would emerge as number one party tomorrow when the counting of votes for the local bodies and civic bodies would be done.
Elections to ten municipal corporations, including the Mumbai civic body, 25 Zilla Parishads and 283 panchayat samitis were held in two phases on February 16 and 21.
Shiv Sena and BJP contested the elections separately.
“Sena challenges the BJP but does not quit power. BJP and Sena are entertaining people (by hurling charges and counter-charges at each other). The state government will not be reduced to minority.
“And if such situation arises, the Congress too is ready for mid-term polls. Our party will never align with Sena to form government with the NCP support,” he told reporters while responding to a query whether the Congress, NCP and the Sena would come together to rule the state.
Interestingly, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP had earlier said they were ready for mid-term polls, whereas Sena said people wanted elections for bringing a change.
