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Pawar ready for pre-poll alliance with cong
New Delhi, Oct 20: Sharad Pawar seems to have climbed down a little on the issue of Sonia Gandhi not being born in India. Today, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief made the first concrete attempt to reach out to Sonia Gandhi, claiming that he never meant to attack the Congress President personally.
New Delhi, Oct 20: Sharad Pawar seems to have climbed down a little on the issue of Sonia Gandhi not being born in India. Today, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief made the first concrete attempt to reach out to Sonia Gandhi, claiming that he never meant to attack the Congress President personally.
"It was a casual remark. I had not taken the name of Sonia Gandhi. I don't raise controversial issues against the Congress in Maharashtra. You don't talk everything serious in public meetings. Some jokes and lighter things are also necessary," Pawar said.
Sharad Pawar's apparent softening comes after Sonia Gandhi was in Maharashtra where she attracted huge crowds. Pawar now wants talks with the Congress on a pre-poll alliance to begin at once fearing a break-up in the NCP-Congress could spell doom for the Maharashtra government.
"We want the Congress to decide whether they want a tie-up. We want a decision on this soon," he said.
Pawar declined to commit anything when asked whether he would not raise the foreign origin issue of Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections, but emphasised he does not see the possibility of a Congress-led Government at the Centre after the next Lok Sabha polls.
On being asked about possible alliances with the Congress in other states, Pawar maintained that he's not going to "commit anything at this juncture".
"It was a casual remark. I had not taken the name of Sonia Gandhi. I don't raise controversial issues against the Congress in Maharashtra. You don't talk everything serious in public meetings. Some jokes and lighter things are also necessary," Pawar said.
Sharad Pawar's apparent softening comes after Sonia Gandhi was in Maharashtra where she attracted huge crowds. Pawar now wants talks with the Congress on a pre-poll alliance to begin at once fearing a break-up in the NCP-Congress could spell doom for the Maharashtra government.
"We want the Congress to decide whether they want a tie-up. We want a decision on this soon," he said.
Pawar declined to commit anything when asked whether he would not raise the foreign origin issue of Sonia Gandhi in the Lok Sabha elections, but emphasised he does not see the possibility of a Congress-led Government at the Centre after the next Lok Sabha polls.
On being asked about possible alliances with the Congress in other states, Pawar maintained that he's not going to "commit anything at this juncture".
Relying to a specific query as to who was his bigger enemy, BJP or Sonia Gandhi, Pawar replied that there are no enemies in public life. He however maintained that his party is also "fighting communal forces" and said that the BJP is still the prime enemy for him. Bureau Report