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Pawar rules out return to Congress
Jaipur, Sept 15: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar today ruled out his return to Congress as long as Sonia Gandhi remained the head of that party.
Jaipur, Sept 15: Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar today ruled out his return to Congress as long as Sonia Gandhi remained the head of that party.
"On Sonia's foreign origin issue, the NCP has not changed its policy," Pawar told a press conference after a day-long session of his party here.
The question does not arise of return to the Congress, our policy is same as it was four years ago when we left it," he said. Pawar, however, said, that on the issue of secularism the NCP did support the Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion in Parliament against the NDA government. But on the national perspective, Sonia's foreign origin issue would be taken up at a suitable time as now was the time for state issues.
He suggested secular parties should make an alternative front to defeat the communal forces. Pawar said NCP would keep "equal distance" from Congress and BJP in the coming assembly elections in five states but would have seat adjustments with left parties, JD(S) and Samata Party.
"We are not in a position to make tall claims but the party will field candidates in a few seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi and probably in all seats in Chattisgarh."
Rajasthan along with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was considered a "sick state" and no government in the past, whether it was of Congress or BJP, did anything to overcome this, he said. Bureau Report
The question does not arise of return to the Congress, our policy is same as it was four years ago when we left it," he said. Pawar, however, said, that on the issue of secularism the NCP did support the Congress-sponsored no-confidence motion in Parliament against the NDA government. But on the national perspective, Sonia's foreign origin issue would be taken up at a suitable time as now was the time for state issues.
He suggested secular parties should make an alternative front to defeat the communal forces. Pawar said NCP would keep "equal distance" from Congress and BJP in the coming assembly elections in five states but would have seat adjustments with left parties, JD(S) and Samata Party.
"We are not in a position to make tall claims but the party will field candidates in a few seats in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi and probably in all seats in Chattisgarh."
Rajasthan along with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar was considered a "sick state" and no government in the past, whether it was of Congress or BJP, did anything to overcome this, he said. Bureau Report