By Andalib Akhter,
New Delhi : Even as his overture towards Shiv Sena has been creating resentment within congress and other secular forces, the Union minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar is unlikely to go with communal forces.
Talking to this correspondent a senior Muslim leader of the NCP said that his party will not make any alliance with communal forces like Shiv Sena. “Our leader Pawarji has a personal rapport with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thakery, but it does not mean that he supports his ideology and his sectarian politics” said the NCP leader on the condition on anonymity.
He said that what is going on in Maharashtra is part of state politics and Shard Pawar is known secular leader across the country. “No one should doubt his secularism” he asserted
Pawar, known for his enigmatic ways, has kept everyone – his friends as well as foes – guessing about his political moves as hectic activities are on after announcement of dates for Lok Sabha polls.
But despite his visit to ailing Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in Lilawati Hospital and continued interaction between Sena leaders and deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, a former Shiv Sainik, there is very little possibility that Pawar will break away from “secular” UPA and join hands with regional Shiv Sena as it will make his lifetime ambition of becoming prime minister even more unachievable.
NCP-Sena alliance is not an easy proposal as it appear. Even if Pawar wants to be Prime minister in post election scenario, he will have no chance of his backing by “secular” UPA partners including Lalu Prasad, Ramvilas Paswan as well as Left parties.
In fact Pawar is using Sena to browbeat Congress in giving more seats out of 48 in the state. NCP wants 25 seats in the state while congress is not ready to give more than 20 seat to the Pawar’s party. The seat sharing talks entered into fourth round on Wednesday.#