Outside support to BJP best option: NCP

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A day after the NCP extended unsolicited ‘ outside support’ to BJP in government formation in Maharashtra, party president Sharad Pawar on Monday said it was the ‘ best alternative’ to usher in a ‘ stable’ dispensation.

Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has maintained that extending unconditional support to the Bhartiya Janata Party ( BJP) from outside in the formation of government was the best possible choice in the interest of Maharashtra.

“Offering outside support to BJP was the best among the alternatives before us. We have to ensure that a stable government comes in Maharashtra,” Mr Pawar said. He was addressing a meeting of newly- elected MLAs of the party after the Maharashtra Assembly election results.

In the state Assembly elections, the BJP suc- ceeded in achieving 122 seats for the first time, ending the 15- year rule of the Congress and NCP combine. However, due to a shortfall of 22 seats, the BJP needs to take support from a political party to form a majority government. The NCP was the first one to offer unconditional support.

Mr Pawar was of the view that going by the number of seats won by major political parties no other combination was feasible.

According to the election results, the Shiv Sena has emerged as the second- largest party with 63 seats, while the Congress has got 42 and NCP 41 seats. For proving its majority though, the BJP still needs 22 seats in the state Assembly.