Amid uncertainty over the political future of CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi with Eknath Shinde revolt, Deepak Kesarkar, one of the Shinde camp’s MLAs, told News18 that they were in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and that He has 38 MLAs with him.
The BJP has distanced itself from the turmoil saying that the party has nothing to do with the Shiv Sena and the political developments in the state.
State BJP president Chandrakant Patil told reporters in Kolhapur on Friday that no one has proposed to the BJP to come to power.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, however, accused the BJP of taking a different stand from more than two-thirds of Shiv Sena’s MLAs.
Edited excerpt:
How many MLAs are there in your camp now?
Right now we have 38 MLAs in our camp and more than 12 independent MLAs are also with us. More MLAs are on the way and once they arrive we will be in a position to let you know. We are very sure. There is no doubt about it. required number [to be called the official Shiv Sena and not face the defection law] is two-thirds of [55] MLA and we have already crossed it.
What is the next step?
Shinde has gone to a temple outside after which we will have a meeting. We will discuss how to challenge the decision of the CLP [Speaker gave nod to Uddhav-led MLAs to appoint Ajay Chaudhary as the CLP],
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We have handed over a letter to the Deputy Speaker with 37 names. We will wait and if it is not considered then we will have to approach the court.
We are not doing anything wrong. The point is very clear. We have people with us. We are following all the rules of order and democracy.
He has issued a notice to the MLAs that a case can be registered against those traveling to Guwahati. What’s your take on that?
They are trying to put pressure on us. It will not work. They can do whatever they want. It is unnecessary. There is a system and we are following it. We can fight in court. We have people with us.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that you have not proved anything on the ground. Why are you not coming to Maharashtra?
Whenever the speaker calls us to prove our strength on the floor, we will. Why would our MLAs face muscle power? Why are they talking like this? Muscle power is not good in a democracy. In fact when we had written to the Speaker with all the signatures, he should have given us immediate recognition. Instead, we observed that for a group representing only 14 MLAs, a CLP was declared. It is illegal to call Choudhary a CLP.
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We never wanted to leave Maharashtra, but when 100 to 150 people chase your car, what can be done? This is not Balasaheb’s ideology. I have fought to bring peace to Konkan. How will a woman MLA feel when 100 people surround her car?
What is your understanding with BJP?
We always want to be with BJP. We have told them many times. Our ideology is of Balasaheb Thackeray. We were walking away from it. this is not right.
We can form the government only with the help of BJP. We are in touch with them. If Uddhav Thackeray leaves NCP and Congress, we have no problem.
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