Sources in NCP said that Pawar was inclined to contest, but he doesn't see numbers cobbling up in his favour
Congress president Sonia Gandhi had asked the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar to contest presidential elections scheduled for July as as a united Opposition candidate. But 76-year old Maratha leader turned down the offer.
On March 10, a day before the UP and other state Assembly election results were declared, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with Pawar on March 10. Later on April 26, Sonia Gandhi invited him to discuss presidential election and the formation of a national front against the BJP. A top Congress source said Rahul himself sought a meeting with Pawar. While confirming that Pawar was their first choice to contest presidential elections, Congress sources here said, they felt, he was perhaps the only top political leader with good equations across political spectrum and capable to win over NDA partners as well, thus breaking them away from the BJP.
Talking to DNA in Mumbai, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Pawar has declined the offer. "Pawar Saheb declined the offer and conveyed that he will support any Opposition candidate other than himself."
Malik said, "The NDA ally Shiv Sena had also jumped in, extending support to Pawar's candidacy. Pawar told his supporters in Solapur that the NCP was small party so he cannot dream of becoming the president.
Sources in NCP said that Pawar was inclined to contest, but he doesn't see numbers cobbling up in his favour. "If both the ruling and Opposition parties propose his candidature, then he may take up the top Constitutional post," said a source in his party. He said the stature of Pawar doesn't demand him to contest the election.
Rahul Gandhi is egging on Pawar to take the responsibility as the seniormost leader in the Opposition. Congress general secretary C P Joshi claimed his party can't fight Modi alone on its own and alliances will have to be entered in every state if the BJP and Modi are to be ousted in the next parliamentary elections. Pawar is today perhaps the only top political leader and also has a good number of friends in the corporate world to not only put brakes to the entire corporate sector rallying behind Modi but also raise funds much needed in the elections.
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