Reaching out to sulking NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday hailed him as a “very valued colleague” and said his knowledge, wisdom and experience are a “great asset” to his government.
Dr. Singh spoke to Mr. Pawar on Thursday night after he, along with party colleague Praful Patel, skipped the Cabinet meeting, apparently unhappy over denial of number two status in the government.
“Mr Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague of mine whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government,” Dr. Singh said in a statement to PTI.
The Prime Minister’s statement came after Mr. Pawar met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and his party stated that it had “serious issues” over the functioning of the government and the coalition.
“We are unhappy with some aspects which have been raised by Pawar in personal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,” Mr. Praful Patel, NCP leader and Heavy Industries Minister, said after the party’s confabulations.
Mr. Patel, however, said NCP continues to be an “integral” part of the UPA.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh sought to mollify Mr. Pawar. “In a Parliamentary democracy, all are equal in Cabinet. The Prime Minister is first among equals and there is no number two or number three.”
Keywords: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA coalition partners, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, coalition dharma
Pawar is valuable only if he gets rid of his greed and self centric
nature. All through his career as a politician he has succumbed these
pressures and the result is that he could reach the top. He should
realize that if he can not make it to number1, it does not matter if it
is number 2 or number 10, and he has no ability to to get to number 1
for the stated reasons.
Indian National congress is leading the UPA Government. After the exit of Shri.Pranab Mukherjee, the senior most minister in the UPA representing congress party should be the number two. Unfortunately a former stalwart of the congress Shri. Sarat Pawar who have floated his own party cannot claim number two position in a Govt led by Indian National congress. Shri. Pawar should realise that his NCP is a junior partner in UPA Govt. Had Shri.Pawar remained with congress his position in the govt led by INC would have been different. A reader may think that this may be some pressure tactics intending for some other goals to be achieved. When election to the post of President has completed satisfactorily, a controversy like this for a petty issue should not have been brought by Shri.Pawar.
Mr Sharad Pawar is most senior political person, no doubt that but he is president of his own party. How come he can expect high respectly position in Congress party.... all parties in united progress alliance black mail the congress party for thier own agenda insted of national development
In 2014 LS election, all votes should cast their votes to national paries insted of casting votes for local regional parties and wasting.
It is essential to perform some appropriate changes in consituation changes with respect to Goverment formation.
Stable and relioance goverment should be there for groowth and developement of any Nation. All these local parties should not participate the LS elections, they should restrict to state elections only, if they want contenst they should be part of any national party.
Why our government always goes on bargaining. Now It is clearly understood that Sharad Pawar is asking for Finance Prtfolio. Congress has denied the request..and very same day NCP has suddenly feeling very serious issues with congress. It is better to have two party system in india so that these small partners in coalation never having a chance to bargain the situation...
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