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Sunday, Sep 23, 2007
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Uncertainty inherent in coalition set-up: Pawar

Special Correspondent

He says he will not speculate or rule out possibility of polls

MUMBAI: Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar has said he will not speculate or rule out the possibility of mid-term polls, but said one cannot know where the differences inherent in a coalition set-up will lead it to.

At a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Pawar said that in the functioning of a coalition government such situations could arise for, different partners could have different lines and one should be prepared for elections. Asked about the NCP, he said his being a small party it had to be always prepared for the poll.

He was addressing the journalists after meeting his senior party colleagues in Maharashtra. He said the meeting did not have any specific agenda, but the national political scenario was discussed.

“The Left have raised some concerns [about the India-U.S. nuclear deal] and it is our moral responsibility to address them and take corrective measures if need be,” he said. The Left made a written submission of its views and the government replied to them in writing, he said, and till now the discussions were quite “conceptive.”

Asked about the support of the West Bengal leaders to nuclear power, Mr. Pawar every party had its own way of functioning, and in the case of the CPI(M), the Polit Bureau’s decision mattered and not that of an individual.

He recalled that “some years ago we all decided that Jyotibabu should lead the country. However, the Polit Bureau turned it down. They have their own working system.”

Asked if he would contest from the same Lok Sabha constituency of Baramati in Maharashtra, he said he would like to go to the Rajya Sabha. “I am not interested [in contesting election] and my personal desire is to go to the Rajya Sabha but the party will take a decision in the matter.”

The NCP chief declined to comment on the remarks of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Lord Ram. “I can only advise my own party colleagues. In India, there are people from diverse faiths and religions and we should always ensure that we do not hurt the sentiments of anybody.”

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