In a surprise development, the NCP today offered outside support to the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra “in the interest of stability and development” of the State.

“The people of Maharashtra have not given a mandate to any single party. No party is in a position to form a stable Government on its own. Keeping in mind the interest of the people of Maharashtra, we feel we should support the party which can form the Government. Maharashtra needs a stable Government.

“BJP has emerged as the single largest party and we feel that we should given them support from outside so that they can form the Government in the interest of the stability and development of the State,” NCP leader Praful Patel told presspersons here.

The NCP, which was in the Government headed by the Congress for the last 15 years in the State, has won 16 seats and was ahead in 27 others in the 288-member Assembly.

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