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He asked the Congress to decide on an adjustment at least a week before the date of nominations for the Lok Sabha elections and repeated the NCP’s demand for more seats outside Maharashtra. Seat-sharing has to be based on the ability of a party to win the seat, he said, and warned that non-Congress parties had made overtures to the NCP for an alliance in other states. However, he scoffed rumours that one of the names the NCP was considering was the Shiv Sena, calling it media-fuelled speculation.
Pawar was speaking to reporters during a convention of the NCP at Nashik.
While the Congress being a big party could afford to declare its candidates even on the last day of filing of nominations, he said, smaller political formations like the NCP would have a problem preparing for the polls if nominations were declared at the last minute.
Urging the Congress to reconsider its earlier announcement of not forming an alliance at the national level, Pawar warned that its allies like the NCP, RJD and Samajwadi Party would then have to contest the polls (at the national level) on their own, and make local level adjustments with even anti-Congress elements. In case they spoke out against the Congress, it would create confusion in the minds of the people, about which they were worried, he said.
Giving the example of the NDA fighting the polls under the leadership of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pawar said it was necessary for the UPA too to prepare a joint manifesto and face the polls together.
Pawar said he had been approached by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh, and also in Tamil Nadu, the Northeast, Haryana and Orrisa, but wanted to avoid aligning with them. In case the alliance with the TDP materialised, he noted, there was a possibility that the speeches made by him against the Congress and reported in the media would cause problems.
According to the NCP leader, the Congress would have to cede around 50 Lok Sabha seats to its allies countrywide. For his party, he sought around 20 seats in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Lakshadweep, Orissa, Haryana, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur.
On questions about his partymen projecting him as the prime ministerial candidate, Pawar said he had no control over what his cadre felt. Later, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said it was not wrong for NCP activists to “dream” of the same as around 11 crore Maharashtrians wanted a leader from the state to occupy the seat of power in New Delhi.
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Pawar is an unprincipled and unscrupulous man. He left the Congress because he could not accept Italian Sonia as the head of the Congress but he readily and for the sake of power made a 'U' turn and joined the UPA headed by Sonia. It seems Pawar has gained some courage from under Sonia's skirt.
If You have the guts fight election independently.Why threaten. Then See the result.
At the national level it is going to be a fight between the Congress and the BJP. It is true that at the state level regional parties have some presence. It does m not mean that the regional parties should ask more than their due share! What NCP asking is too much and no national party will heed that kind of request that too asking 50 seats outside Maharastra. No wonder , Pawar wants to send across a message that he too needs to be considered for the PM Job! There is no doubt that the congress and the BJP together will dominate the next Lok sahba poll, forcing all other minor parties to toy their lines to support either the Congress or the BJP . In view of the combined strength of these two national parties, it is better for all other regional based parties with fragmented strength to forget their petty aspirations of having a big share of the cake. At the same time the Congress and BJP can not forget the emerging local leaders/chieftains. Theses leaders wield power in states.
Do you really want seat in kerala. for whom? for what reason?
In some muncipal councils, NCP has tied up with the BJP, so what can Pawar talk about tie ups ? With thousand of tons of wheat rotting in godowns, he has not even done justice to his ministry. He must learn from his colleague to talk less and do more . Congress can tie up with decent parties, not those which hob nob with pariahs like the BJP and Shiv Sena ! Pawar's hypocrisy matches that of advani !
Rather than pleading his case for alliance to congress high command, Pawar should merge his small party in congress and contribute to a healthier democracy with less number of small parties. Even otherwise, his Guru and friends have always been congress party members. An able person would receive his 'dues' at an opportune time, anyway.
The Congress party still dreams of one party rule, I think! They are still in the hangover of sinful and dark period of Indira Gandhi.
Very Clever electoral politics. UPA is fearing of loosing the election so conglomerates are crying????