A day after senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reached out to Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar’s nephew and a leader of his Nationalist Congress Party, NCP leader Nawab Malik on Sunday hinted of lending support to Sena in Maharashtra.

The NCO spokesperson said, “it is upto the Shiv Sena to decide whether it wishes to do politics with respect or wants to face insult as it did in the past five years. We will clear our stand when Shiv Sena initiates talks on a coalition with the NCP. So far we are playing as the opposition only. But if Shiv Sena changes its course, then, new political equations can come into play.”

He also accused the BJP of using ‘muscle power’ to bag votes in the recently concluded Maharashtra assembly elections.

The NCP on Saturday also said it will take a “positive view” if the Shiv Sena is ready to form a “people’s government as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj” minus the BJP.

Malik had said alternatives can be available if the Uddhav Thackeray-led party takes any decision in this regard in the interest of the people.

“The NCP will definitely take a positive view if the Shiv Sena is ready to form the people’s government as envisaged by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, minus the BJP. The alternative will be available if any decision is taken in the interest of the people to form government,” Malik tweeted.

Malik, who is also Mumbai NCP president, said there is no question of imposing President’s Rule in Maharashtra and said his party will try to give direction to the state in a democratic manner.

“We will not allow throttling of democracy through the imposition of President’s Rule. We are ready to give an alternate government. We are ready and other parties and the Shiv Sena should explain their stand,” he said.

Meanwhile, confirming Sanjay Raut’s message, Ajit Pawar told media, “”I have received a message from Sanjay Raut a while ago. I was in a meeting so didn’t respond. I don’t know why he has messaged. Since the results this is the first time he has messaged me. I will call him in a while and talk to him,” Ajit Pawar told reporters in the afternoon.”