Mumbai, Nov 12: The mood in BJP seemed upbeat as party strategists fine-tuned their strategy to win the trust vote in the Maharashtra assembly on Wednesday. BJP expects to sail through on NCP's support.
"NCP legislators will either remain absent during the trust vote or support BJP," said a BJP strategist. "Either which way the NCP decides, BJP will win the confidence motion," he added.
An NCP leader categorically said the party would not abstain but vote in favour of the minority BJP government. "We have issued a one-line whip asking all our legislators to vote in favour of the confidence motion,'' the leader said.
BJP doesn't expect support from Shiv Sena as talks between the two parties, though re-started, had not reached any amicable solution till late Tuesday evening. Sena will take a final call on its stand on Wednesday morning.
BJP has 121 MLAs in the 287-member assembly and is 23 short of a majority (the strength of the House is actually 288 and the majority mark 145, but it has been reduced to 144 because of the death of a BJP legislator).
CM Devendra Fadnavis said BJP had already touched the 140 mark. "Besides 10 Independent MLAs, we have the backing of 8 other legislators. We will prove our majority," he said. Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy said BJP would welcome the support of all parties except Congress, which is "responsible for the mess" in the state.
It was seen as an indication that BJP was not averse to receiving NCP's support.
"We want to take along all those who want to come forward for the development of Maharashtra. I hope Shiv Sena will turn around," he said. Asked about NCP, Rudy said Sharad Pawar's party has already extended unconditional support but dismissed suggestions that it will be running the show in the state.
Many in the BJP are uncomfortable with the idea of depending on NCP support. After the party wins the confidence motion, it will have six months to finalize its strategy for acquiring a comfortable majority as a no-confidence motion cannot be brought in during that period after a trust vote.
Sources said the BJP could think of splitting the Sena or Congress.
"NCP may, sooner or later, pull a fast one. We are cagey about their backing," said a state BJP functionary. "We will have to work out new strategies to firm up our government," he added.
A section in the Maharashtra BJP is equally wary of seeking Sena's support, in view of what a BJP functionary described as Matoshree's "arbitrary and cavalier" style of functioning.
"The Sena doesn't understand things in fine print. The Thackerays threw their weight around a few hours before the swearing-in ceremony last Sunday. They wanted to talk to PM Modi when he had already left his office for Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Sena lacks political maturity," said a BJP minister.
Fadnavis presided over a meeting of BJP legislators on Tuesday where the nitty-gritty of the confidence vote was discussed in detail. The conclave, an exercise to keep the flock together, was held at the Y B Chavan Centre in south Mumbai.
In his speech, Fadnavis assured party legislators that his government was poised to get good support from other parties, even from "unexpected quarters."
Haribhau Bagde, BJP candidate for the Speaker's post, also spoke. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi chief Hitendra Thakur, MLA, was present with his two legislators in tow, it is learnt, as were several Independent MLAs. BJP MLAs have been asked to check into Vidhan Bhavan at 10am on Wednesday. The Speaker's election will be held first, followed by the trust vote.
While re-opening a line of communication with the Sena in the run-up to the trust vote, the BJP also tapped smaller groups for support on the floor of the house. Fadnavis has managed to win over the Peasants' and Workers' Party which has 3 MLAs.
The CM is trying to avoid election to the Speaker's office, sources said. Vijay Auti (Sena), Varsha Gaikwad (Congress) and BJP's Bagde are in the fray. An NCP leader said the party would also vote in favour of the BJP nominee for Speaker.
Fadnavis is believed to have held informal talks with other parties on Tuesday to ensure the Speaker is elected unanimously. Should this happen, it will speak for the CM's political acumen and crisis management skills, said observers.
"I will request them (other parties) to withdraw their candidates from the fray," the CM said.
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