Ajit Pawar, Prithviraj Chavan’s deputy, has convinced his uncle Sharad that there is no point in continuing the alliance in the state since the government is intent on targeting its own ministers.
If the need arises, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will pull out of the Centre as well as the state.
“If we move out of the alliance only at the Centre, our position in the state will no longer be tenable,” a party leader said.
The NCP and the Congress have been coalition partners in Maharashtra for the past 13 years. But the relations between both parties nosedived during Prithviraj Chavan’s tenure.
This time Ajit Pawar, Chavan’s deputy, wants his uncle NCP chief Sharad Pawar to take a tough stand. He has convinced his uncle that there is no point in continuing the alliance in the state since the government is intent on targeting its own ministers.
Another NCP leader said there has not been a single meeting of the Congress-NCP coordination committee ever since Chavan took charge as the chief minister. Also, Chavan’s supporters have been carrying out a smear campaign against NCP ministers, he said.
Though there has been no official word from the Congress till now, sources say several leaders of both parties have held informal talks. Sharad Pawar being the pragmatic politician he is, it is unlikely that the stand-off will ultimately reach the breaking point.
On his part, Pawar has had talks with non-Congress partners in the UPA to reach a consensus.
Senior NCP leader and Union heavy industries minister Praful Patel had set a 48-hour deadline for the Congress on Monday. So, it is expected that the party will take the final call at its meeting on Wednesday, ahead of Thursday’s cabinet meeting.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had informally asked Patel “to do something” to resolve the crisis when they met at a tea party in Parliament’s Central Hall.
(With inputs from agencies)
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