After being a staunch supporter of the creation of the Telangana state, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar appears to have softened his stance after meeting the YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday.
The NCP is a key ally of the UPA government.
“The NCP has supported Telangana for nine years but Mr. Reddy has raised important issues. He pointed out that the views of the State legislature should be considered on the bifurcation ,” Mr. Pawar said.
I am not in a position to take a view now but I will place this before the party’s working committee,” he added.
On whether his change in stance would embarrass the Centre on the issue, Mr. Pawar said, “Dialogue is very important in a democracy. The other side should be given a chance to explain itself.”
In the past, Mr. Pawar attended the Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s rally in Telangana. Among the UPA allies, he was one of those who pushed for an early resolution on the issue. Mr. Pawar clarified that his meeting with Mr. Reddy had no connection with a change in political affiliations. “There has been a lot of speculation on this, but this is not the case,” he said.
Mr. Reddy is meeting political leaders across the country campaigning against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. “Demands for the bifurcation of States should be backed by a two-thirds majority in the State Assembly concerned and Parliament,” Mr. Reddy said. Later in the day, he called on Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray.
