Despite vital differences with the Congress party at the Centre and in Maharashtra, its coalition partner, the Nationalist Congress Party, on Saturday said that it would want the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre to complete its full five-year term.
Relations between the coalition allies touched an all-time-low after NCP chief Sharad Pawar shot off a communication to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, threatening to quit regarding policy matters, and complaining that his party was being left out of key decisions.
Speaking to reporters here, senior NCP leader and Minister for Heavy Industries, Praful Patel, stated that the NCP would remain an ally of the UPA, and extend it its fullest co-operation.
He, however, emphasised the need for co-ordination with the Congress at the Centre as well as in the State, complaining that co-ordination committee meetings between the two parties no longer took place.
“The functioning of the government at the Centre and in the State hasn’t been according to our expectation after all these years. Our views haven’t been considered,” said Mr. Patel.
Mr. Patel refused to highlight the contentious issues with the Congress government’s functioning in Maharashtra, stating that the purpose wasn’t to target any one individual or minister.
The NCP’s complaint with the UPA wasn’t regarding Mr. Pawar being denied the number 2 seat in the Cabinet, stressed Mr. Patel, dismissing suggestions that the NCP chief was merely starting a row to salvage his political pride.
“It is unfortunate that the UPA hasn’t taken advantage of the stature of a politician like Sharad Pawar,” commented Mr. Patel.
Expressing dissatisfaction at the UPA government’s current state, Mr. Patel said the NCP, nevertheless, would like to have a secular, progressive government at the Centre.
Mr. Pawar didn’t address the media at the airport, or after the meeting of the NCP top brass, that took place at his residence in the afternoon.
Speaking to The Hindu, NCP State president Madhukar Pichad criticised the Congress government’s handling of the drought situation in Maharashtra, one of the topics of discussion at the meeting.
But the strain in Congress-NCP ties is yet to be resolved, with Mr. Patel stating that the party would take a final call on issues only on Monday, after a meeting of its members in New Delhi.
Keywords: Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel, NCP-Congress rift, UPA government, UPA allies
During the days of wooden ships there would always be rats on board.
If the vessel were in danger of sinking the rats would jump and try
to swim to safety. Similarly NCP is acutely aware that the Congress
ship is likely to face mortal danger of sinking in the next national
elections. So NCP pronouncements need to be taken with a pinch of
salt. No amount of accommodative gesture by Congress will cut any
ice with Sharad Pawar . He being a shrewd master of political
intrigues and will play a hard game. Congressmen too are veteran
political players and would have divined this very well, but will go
through the motions with out blinking!
DMK is unhappy with the Congress on several counts. Yet with bitterness, it will remain a loyal partner of the UPA. Ditto for Didi.
The latest to join this growing group of bitter partners is NCP. Dr. Singh seems to have a magic wand? Can any one find what it is?
How can NCP support a government which does not, as alleged by Praful Patel, consider its views and whose functioning is not upto it's expectations? An Utterly Pointless Association, isn't?
Congress party should learn to run a coalition government giving due respect to its alliance partners. Today's Congress Party is totally different from that of the party upto 1947. A national party is not one which has its presence in all states but which has the trust of people of all states of India. People are not willing to place their faith totally in the leaders who are very far off from them. A federal government should govern the nation without any conflict with the state governments. In fact superiority complex is the predominant attitude with the central government. Time is changing, world is changing hence attitude also needs change.
NCP deserves to be ousted out of the country instead of UPA. I am not telling that
UPA got leaders better than NCP ones, they are equally bad, some famous gestures
I can`t forget from Mr. Sharad Pawar being in war of words against court suggestion
of distribution of excess food items to poor. Who can forget the Air India debacle
when Mr. Praful Patel was in lead. We need more people like Harwinder Singh to
show whats their position in the minds of people of India.
i am feeling its about happenings in Mumbai rather than in Delhi. the
actual problems are about cong-ncp coalition in maharastra facing some
image building problems and ego tusselings.
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