The violence against BJP leaders in Maharashtra has prompted some BJP to talk of imposing President’s Rule in the state, however, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was confident that the Centre would not take such a step.

“Those who are restless are expected to look for other options but there is no need to take them that seriously. I don’t think they (BJP leaders) would take such a serious step. The Kolhapur by-poll results have shown them what would happen (to them) if they have elections,” said Pawar while speaking to reporters in Pune.

The NCP chief, without naming BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, targeted the former CM, saying that people without power have become ‘restless’. “Power comes and goes, but there is no need to become restless. These days some people have become too restless. I can’t blame them because before the Assembly polls (in 2019), they had announced that they were coming back to power which did not happen,” said Pawar.

The NCP chief also faulted the Amravati MP-MLA couple Navneet and Ravi Rana for planning to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside the home of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. ” If you want to conduct some religious ritual then you can do it at your home, but if you declare to do it outside my home, you cannot blame me for the anger coming from my followers,” said Pawar, adding that he would be working to create peace among different communities. Pawar also spoke against the ‘disrespectful’ comments made against the Chief Minister. “One can criticize the Chief Minister on the issue of the government’s policy but you can’t insult him, the institution has to be respected,” said Pawar.

Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said: “There have been so many crimes and rapes ever since the Yogi government has come back to power. If you want to put President’s Rule, put it simultaneously in UP and Maharashtra,”dared Raut.