Guwahati: Ramdas Athawale, Union minister and Republican Party of India (RPI) president on Monday urged NCP leader Sharad Pawar to join the NDA and form the government in Maharashtra along with his party and the BJP. Presently, the ruling coalition in Maharashtra comprises the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Congress, and the Shiv Sena.
Athawale, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, posted a video on Twitter in which he claimed that the NCP's partnership with the Congress and the Shiv Sena was not "beneficial" for the party.
Athawale, speaking in Hindi, said that Pawar's decision to support the Shiv Sena is not giving any benefit to the NCP. He further added that if NCP president Sharad Pawar wants the country's development as well as more funds for Maharashtra, then he should join the BJP-led NDA alliance. He said that if Pawar comes around and sees eye-to-eye with them over the issue, they can form an alliance and then the Government.
The Minister said that if Pawar takes this step, the state Government will run well in Maharashtra, while the Centre will also allocate more funds for Maharashtra's development. "It is my request to Sharad Pawar to take a decision to join the NDA," Athawale appealed.