Politicians of Maharashtra have been asking only one question for last two days: “What is Sharad Pawar’s plan?”
Experts say this is a signal to the Congress that NCP has now grown stronger
Politicians of Maharashtra have been asking only one question for last two days: “What is Sharad Pawar’s plan?”
The other day, Sharad Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President, during an interview with a news channel, shocked political circles by expressing his desire to seek nomination to the Rajya Sabha instead of contesting Lok Sabha election from Baramati.
While some look at this as Pawar’s aspiration of shifting to global cricket scene, others are looking at this move as the first step of launching daughter Supriya in electoral politics by handing over Baramati Lok Sabha constituency to her.
However, there is also a section of political thinkers who look at this move entirely differently. For them this is Pawar’s first move of communicating to Congress that his party has become strong enough to face ensuing assembly and general elections on its own. This message is important because unless he threatens Congress of snapping ties, Congress won’t give him additional number of seats in Assembly and Lok Sabha.
If one knows Pawar a bit then we must presume that he is having all these things on his mind and he might be killing several birds with one stone. Unless confirmed, these are nothing but speculations and to be precise, none of them can be confirmed before the 2009 assembly, general polls.
Talking to DNA, a senior NCP leader confirmed that Pawar had several birds on his target when he was hurling a stone in the air. “It is for sure that if Saheb (Pawar is normally referred as Saheb within the party) does not contest next Lok Sabha election from Baramati then Supriya tai will be the obvious choice. It is quite simple like identifying the heir to the throne which he had already done in the past. She is being groomed as the next President of the Party.”
This senior leader, however, completely ruled out the possibility of Pawar becoming full-time office bearer of ICC. “Even if he wanted to become ICC Chairman, he can easily be one after two years from now.”
An influential section in politics believes that Pawar will demand more assembly and lok sabha seats in 2009. “He knows for sure that his numbers do not cross the magic figure of 10. If he gets more seats, then only he will have improved representation in Delhi where he will be able to bargain better,” said a senior political analyst. In case, he gets more and desired constituencies like Pune and Amravati where his party is a force to reckon with.
In case, Congress agrees to handover few more seats to NCP, Pawar will be demanding Pune Lok Sabha. Thus Supriya will not only be launched in electoral politics but will also be projected as future of the party.
Yet the most discussed question in Maharashtra today is what is on top of the agenda for Mr Pawar?
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=spacer}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}