Remarking that all speculation about the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP government collapsing had proved false, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday claimed his government had the support of 220 of the 288 legislators in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Addressing a rally of his Sena faction in Kolhapur district, Mr. Shinde defended the inclusion of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction on grounds that it was necessary for “certain political equations”.
“Many of you are thinking that what was the need to take Mr. Ajit Pawar’s NCP group on board when our BJP-Shinde Sena government was doing fine…but we have to work out certain political equations. But do not let this worry you…ever since our government completed one year, we have been hearing rumours that it will collapse. Instead, today, I have the support of 220 MLAs,” said the CM.
