Muslims voted for parties which could defeat BJP: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday claimed that Muslims didn’t vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Maharashtra assembly elections held last year in October. 

Pawar was speaking at the NCP’s minority cell meeting at the party office in Mumbai. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was also present during the meeting. 

Muslims didn’t vote for BJP during Maharashtra assembly elections but for parties which could defeat BJP. During elections, the minorities decide whom to defeat. This is why we saw a change of government in Maharashtra,” said NCP minority cell meeting. 

Pawar further stated that representatives from the minority communities had stated that they won’t object to NCP forming government with Shiv Sena “but BJP should be kept away from power in Maharashtra”.

Earlier, Maharashtra Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Ashok Chavan stated that Congress went ahead to form the government with Shiv Sena only at the behest of Muslims to keep BJP out of power. 

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This invited a lot of heat from the BJP. Several leaders from the saffron party attacked the senior Congress leader over his remarks alleging Chavan’s party for “appeasement of Muslims”.