# Ajit Pawar camp’s 18-19 MLAs ready for crossover
New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said in a recent interview, that supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are “in contact” with the INDIA group. He warned that even a minor disturbance could destabilize the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is heavily reliant on regional parties.
Rahul highlighted significant discontent within the Modi government, stating it would “struggle” to survive.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Rahul remarked, “The numbers are such that they are very fragile, and the smallest disturbance can bring down the government.” He hinted that a single ally reversing their support could jeopardize the NDA’s stability but did not provide further details.
The NDA secured 293 Lok Sabha seats to clinch a third term at the Centre. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost its majority, depending on minor parties to retain power. The INDIA coalition’s success in winning 234 seats marked Rahul Gandhi’s rise in opposition politics and a significant setback for the BJP.
Gandhi attributed the BJP’s defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to India’s rejection of the party’s “hatred” to gain votes. He emphasized that the electorate had dismissed the notion of promoting anger and fury for political gain, leading to the collapse of the BJP’s core mission of fostering religious hatred.
Adding to the political turbulence, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sharad Pawar’s grandson, Rohit Pawar, claimed that 18-19 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs from the Ajit Pawar camp might defect to their group. Rohit Pawar told reporters that these MLAs would likely join Sharad Pawar’s NCP after the monsoon session. “We have 18 to 19 (NCP) MLAs in touch with us and Pawar saheb,” he stated to NDTV.
Rohit Pawar expressed concerns about cracks within the government coalition earlier this month. The INDIA coalition’s victory in 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats was a significant blow to the NDA, which has experienced several instances of “horse-trading” and coalition collapses, leading to political instability.
The NDA, comprising Shiv Sena’s Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, managed to secure only 17 seats. In response to the BJP’s loss in the state, Deputy Chief Minister and state leader Devendra Fadnavis offered to resign.
