'NCP to abstain if BJP seeks trust vote in Maharashtra'

The Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra will abstain from voting in the Legislative Assembly if a minority government headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party seeks trust vote.

“If Shiv Sena joins the government, there will be no problem. We will not be part of the government but do not want to create instability by voting against a minority government. So NCP will abstain if there is voting," NCP spokesman Nawab Malik told PTI.

NCP would like to honour the people's mandate which is in favour of BJP, the single largest party, he said.

Seven independents and 5 MLAs from smaller parties will support the BJP government during the floor test taking the total strength to 134, ten short of the simple majority mark in the house of 288. There is one nominated member taking the total strength of the legislative assembly to 289.

In an interview to an English daily, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "if situation warrants and there is voting in the assembly (for establishing majority) we will abstain."

“Numbers are such that we are compelled to do it, otherwise there will be no government in Maharashtra and within 6 months there will again be elections,” he said in the interview.