Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised two parties, including Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), for showing discipline during parliamentary proceedings.
The encomium was an intriguing addition to Prime Minister Modi's speech marking the 250th session of the Rajya Sabha on Friday, considering that Sharad Pawar will meet with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at 5 pm to discuss a prospective alliance with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.
The Shiv Sena and the BJP won a combined majority in Maharashtra's state election but fell out due to a disagreement on sharing the chief minister's job.
But the Sena is confident it can form a stable government with help from rivals Congress and NCP. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said a new administration would be in place by the first week of December.
Also Read: Shiv Sena confident on forming govt in Maharashtra as Sonia, Pawar meet today to finalise the pact
So what exactly did Prime Minister Narendra Modi say about the NCP and the second party, the Biju Janata Dal?
He praised them for adhering strictly to parliamentary norms and noted that they raised points effectively even though they never went to the well. Other parties, including the BJP, could learn from them, he said.