Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar today put to bed all conjectures about him leading the opposition alliance.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) – currently being led by the Congress, and said that he would help bring parties together to fight the BJP in 2024 but won’t lead the anti-BJP bloc.
“Recently, some youth workers of our party (NCP) passed a resolution asking me to become the chairperson of the UPA. But I am not at all interested in that position. I am not going to get into that. I will not take up that responsibility,” the former Union minister said.
With this, Sharad Pawar also clarified, “If an attempt is made to provide an alternative (to the BJP), I am ready to co-operate, support and strengthen the bloc.”
There has been growing demands for some time now to make Sharad Pawar the chairperson of the UPA with Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut backing the calls.
The voices were strengthened after Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at a meeting with Sharad Pawar, reportedly told him that he should come forward to lead the UPA since he is a senior leader who has the ears of most.
The Bengal chief minister also called on the chief ministers of non-BJP states to meet and discuss the formation of a Mahagathbandhan against the BJP. She had floated the idea of parties coming together to fight the BJP and without directly naming Pawar, had hinted that the former Union minister should be at the helm.
The chorus grew louder as people began looking to Pawar as he successfully brought the Shiv Sena and the Congress – polar opposites – together in a coalition in Maharashtra. Many were already raising doubts over the Congress’ ability to lead the bloc, with talks that Sonia Gandhi may be the UPA chairperson but the UPA has ceased to exist.
According to the veteran politician, the Opposition front, if formed, cannot exclude the Congress. “You will find Congress workers in every village, district and state in the country. The reality is that the Congress, which has a wide presence, must be taken on board while providing an alternative (to BJP),” he said.
Speaking about the grand old party’s role in leading a front against the BJP, Pawar said the Congress has a pan-India presence even though it is not in power.
Outlining the need for a strong opposition in the country, Pawar said, “If only one party is strong, then it will become like Putin. He and the Chinese president have resolved to lead their countries until they are dead. I hope India never has a Putin.”