NCP Northeast chief Narendra Verma said Sharad Pawar decided to accept the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio 'in the larger interest of the state of Nagaland'.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Nationalist Congress Party after its Northeast in-charge Narendra Verma said that the party has pledged its support for the Neiphiu Rio government in alliance with BJP. Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) leader Neiphiu Rio takes oath as the Chief Minister of Nagaland for the fifth term on Tuesday in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a statement, Verma said Sharad Pawar decided to accept the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio "in the larger interest of the state of Nagaland". The Nagaland NCP chief also added that Sharad Pawar had approved the proposal to go along with other political parties who backed up CM Neiphiu Rio.
Reacting to the NCP backing of the NDPP-BJP alliance, Owaisi said, "If 'Sharad' was 'Shadab' he’d be called BTeam & be an untouchable for 'seculars'. I’ve never supported BJP govt & never will but this is the 2nd time NCP supported BJP & it may not be the last. (sic)"
Further adding, Owaisi said, "SAHIB's supporting those who jailed his minister Nawab Malik."
The NDPP-BJP coalition in Nagaland won 37 seats in the 60-member Assembly in the recent Assembly polls that were held on February 27. All other parties in the state subsequently handed their letters of support to the Rio-led alliance making way for an Opposition-less government in the northeastern state.
In another statement to the ANI, Verma said, "All other political parties submitted their supporting letter to CM Neiphiu Rio, so our 7 MLAs cannot remain isolated. I sought permission from the High Command&party president Sharad Pawar approved the proposal to go along with other political parties."