PUNE: If NCP insiders are to be believed, party president Sharad Pawar 's move to announce unconditional support to the minority BJP government was a desperate attempt to keep his flock together as a big chunk of the party's MLAs was planning to shift loyalties to the BJP.

According to top NCP leaders, some BJP senior leaders had contacted MLAs of both Congress and NCP within minutes of the assembly election results being announced and the BJP realizing it was short of majority.

"Sharad Pawar immediately jumped into action as soon as he sensed BJP's move. He communicated to his MLAs that the NCP was going to be on the ruling side and that he would also be able to reduce Shiv Sena's bargaining power with the BJP," said an NCP leader.

Another party insider said that BJP had contacted over 20 NCP MLAs, another reason why Pawar had to act quickly. "With this number, there was no chance of disqualification under defection Act. BJP was also talking to MLAs from the Congress. In fact, senior BJP leaders told three Congress MLAs that they would get accommodated in the cabinet if they convinced 8-10 MLAs to defect," said the NCP leader.

During his recent visit to Pune, TOI had asked Sharad Pawar about his move to announce unconditional support to the BJP and whether it was done in a hurry. To this, Pawar had replied, "The current political scene is because of our decision." However, he did not make any mention of MLAs from the NCP being lured by leaders from the BJP.

NCP leaders admitted that it would have been difficult for Pawar to keep the party intact without power. Since NCP's formation, Pawar has managed to stay in power in the state and at the Centre. Political observers have repeatedly said that power is the glue that has kept the NCP together.

Besides, political pundits note that NCP is not a cadre-based party. It is a bunch of political leaders and sugar barons who would go with anyone whose loyalties are fluid, and with those who assures them of power .

"Don't be surprised, if NCP moves even more closer to the BJP in the state and at the Centre. Though state BJP leaders are not very happy to join hands with Sharad Pawar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah are very much inclined to have Pawar on board," said an NCP MP who added that BJP and NCP might join hands in the winter session of the state assembly where NCP is all set to stake a claim on the legislative council speaker's post.

