Veteran Maharashtra politician Sharad Pawar and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee exchanged notes over a phone call on Wednesday following the arrest of his party leader and minister Nawab Malik in a money laundering case, sources have told NDTV.
The call lasted for about 10 minutes during which, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed her support and solidarity.
Mr Pawar, sources said, asked her if she had suspended her ministers who were arrested last year by the CBI in connection with the Narada case. He also enquired about how she had handled the episode.
The West Bengal Chief Minister too had faced a similar situation ahead of last year's state elections when several party leaders including ministers were targeted by central investigative agencies.
Mamata Banerjee had firmly rebuffed calls for their resignation at that time.
On Friday, Ms Banerjee condemned Nawab Malik's arrest advised Sharad Pawar not to "play into the hands of the BJP" by dropping him from the Maharashtra government.
Accusing the BJP of masterminding the entire exercise with the help of law enforcement agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, both leaders called for opposition unity and a pushback against the misuse.
Hours after the call, the Maharashtra government announced it would not ask for Mr Malik's resignation.
"Tomorrow will protest peacefully near Mahatma Gandhi memorial in front of Mantralaya (Maharashtra secretariat). All three parties are together and will be part of this movement," ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Chhagan Bhujbal said at a news conference.
"In the last 30 years, no one took the name of Nawab Malik with the Mumbai blasts. But now that he is speaking against Union Government, hence to shut his mouth, today he was arrested. This is very unfortunate. This is an attempt to create pressure on MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi, Maharashtra's ruling coalition). We all condemn this. This is against democracy," Mr Bhujbal said.
