Congress plays down Sharad Pawar's remarks on coalition politics

Congress on Wednesday downplayed NCP chief Sharad Pawar's remarks expressing anguish over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on coalition politics, saying that there was some "misunderstanding" on the part of the NCP leader.

"The Prime Minister was very clear and very specific. He has said the right thing but Pawar appears to have not understood it properly. I think there is some misunderstanding on his part, otherwise he would not have given this statement," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters.

His comment came on Pawar's remark that he was pained over the Prime Minister's comments that in coalition politics difficult decisions become more difficult.

A senior party leader, who declined to be identified, suggested that Pawar's comments were not that innocent and he has in a way joined the Trinamool Congress and the DMK, which have been critical of the government.

Yesterday, another party spokesperson Manish Tewari had maintained that the Congress has treated all its allies "with extreme sensitivity and with utmost courtesy".