We will be an effective opposition: Maharashtra Congress chief

MUMBAI: Both Congress and NCP on Friday made it clear that there is no proposal before them to support Shiv Sena in the event it decides to stake claim for forming government in Maharashtra.
State Congress president Balasaheb Thorat said he has seen reports in a section of the media on the possibility of Sena forming government with the help of Congress and NCP, but there is no substance in such reports, since there is no such nproposal on his table.“Our performance in the assembly was quite satisfactory, though we were not able to dislodge the BJP-led government. We are happy we were able to enhance our strength in the legislative assembly. Now, we will play the role of an effective opposition and work from the grassroots up for the revival of the organisation at all levels,” Thorat said.
If one looks at the outcome of the assembly election, the Maharashtra Congress chief said, it has been established that BJP has paid a heavy price for arrogance and the misuse of central investigating agencies. “BJP used money and muscle power to lure Congress-NCP leaders into its fold. Significantly, many of the defectors were defeated by huge margins. A clear message has been given to the government: do not take people for granted,” Thorat said.
He said the Congress-NCP front, “along with like-minded parties, secured 117 seats”. “We halted the forward march of the saffron combine. The opposition has become more powerful than ever before. The way NCP president Sharad Pawar took the state by storm, I must place it on record. Pawar’s campaigning helped the Congress-NCP front in its performance.”
Mumbai NCP president Nawab Malik, who won back the Anushakti Nagar constituency from Shiv Sena, said that all along Fadnavis claimed that the opposition would be wiped out. “He has been proved wrong. It’s time for the chief minister for self-introspection. The ruling combine’s margin has been reduced drastically. The opposition lost several seats by a narrow margin. Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the saffron combine would win 220 seats, but it has won just over 160. Its performance has been dismal,” Malik said. “The people of Maharashtra have shown BJP and Sena their place.”