Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday claimed that Muslims did not vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Sharad Pawar, along with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, addressed a meeting of the party’s minority cell on Thursday at their party office.
Speaking at the meeting, Sharad Pawar said, "During Maharashtra elections, Muslims did not vote for BJP. They vote for parties which can defeat BJP. During elections, the minorities decide whom to defeat. In the state, the change of guard which we are seeing is due to that."
Earlier on January 22, the BJP and the Congress had called each other names with the former dubbing the opposition party "Muslim League Congress" which hit back saying the saffron party should instead be called ''Nathuram Godse Party'' or "Bhrasht Jumla Party".
Read: Congress replies to 'Muslim League Congress' jibe, says BJP should be named as 'Bharsht Jhumla Party'
The BJP cited reported remarks of Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan to accuse the Congress of "Muslim appeasement" and "insulting" Hindus, and said that the opposition party should be called "Muslim League Congress".
The Congress hit back saying the issue of rising unemployment is having its effect on BJP spokespersons and their empty minds are now turning into the Devil's workshop.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP was formed in November last year after the BJP failed to prove its majority in the State assembly. Shiv Sena, which was in a pre-poll alliance with the BJP, broke away after the two parties failed to reach an agreement on the '50-50 power-sharing formula'.
While the Sena maintained that the BJP had promised them the CM post for 2.5 years, the latter dismissed the claim.
Read: Congress will not allow CAA in Maharashtra, says Ashok Chavan
