NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, who was projected a prime ministerial contender by his supporters, today took himself out of the race for 7, Race Course road as Congress-led UPA looked all set to return to power under Dr Manmohan Singh, the declared prime ministerial candidate of Congress party.
Asked if he still considered himself a prime ministerial candidate, Pawar said Congress had already taken a decision on it and he did not see any problem with its UPA allies, including NCP, subscribing to decision of the Grand Old Party(GOP).
Further asked if UPA would require the Left support in forming the new government like it did in 2004 when the Red brigade propped it from outside for four and half years, Pawar, who had been playing footsie with the Left all through the process of Election 2009, said "at this moment" the Left can not be ignorned as the UPA is short of numbers (for the majority) but added situation could change in the evening when all results are out.
Stating that he is "by and large satisfied with the performance of UPA", Pawar said what is more satisfying is that people have rejected the BJP and NDA. But at the same time, he said UPA could have done better.
Describing UPA's performance as people's mandate for "stability", he said the nation also needed a stable government at this juncture.
On Congress-NCP performance in Maharashtra where the two-party combine is running the state government, the Maratha strongman said it could have been better than half of the total 48 seats the combine is leading as per latest trends available.
Only UPA can provide stable govt
Pawar also said that a stable government was the need of the hour in these times of global recession and there should be no problem in formation of a stable government, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said here today.
"People were confident that only UPA can provide a stable government and with the results and trends available so far, there should be no hindrance to formation of a stable government," Pawar told reporters here.
"After this result, how can anyone else's subject crop up," Pawar said replying to a query on his prime ministerial ambitions.
"Singh was the Congress nominee for the Prime Minister's post. Looking at the way Congress is getting the numbers, the UPA partners will endorse the Congress decision," Pawar said.
The NCP chief said results in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal had changed the situation.
Asked if the support of the Left parties would be required, Pawar said, "the manner in which voters have responded to the Left parties, the scenario is different."
"UPA will still fall short of some numbers, hence we cannot say no to anybody as of now," the NCP chief said. Pawar said the UPA's performance was better than last time, but could have still been better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment