Demand to contest particular LS seat should be based on party strength: Pawar

KOLHAPUR: NCP chief Sharad Pawar said his party would propose in the upcoming INDIA meeting that any particular party could insist on contesting from a specific Lok Sabha seat only if it had the strength in the constituency.

The meeting of INDIA alliance partners is slated to take place in Mumbai on September 1.

Speaking to the media in Kolhapur, Pawar said the alliance partners are coming together to decide on the strategy for the Lok Sabha election. "In Maharashtra, we are going to contest together with Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and some other parties. Any party should insist on contesting a particular seat only if it has the strength in the constituency. We are going to make this suggestion in the INDIA meet. The seat sharing will then be decided after September 1," said Pawar.

When asked about the possibility of Bahujan Samaj Party joining INDIA, Pawar said Mayawati has made up her mind to contest solo. "We cannot make it a compulsion if she has made up her mind. There are other parties such as Andhra Pradesh's YSR Congress and Telangana's BRS, which too have different opinions," said Pawar.

The NCP chief said the Bharat Jodo Yatra of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has been key in making people believe that the opposition is with them. "After the first yatra, the electoral tally of the opposition parties has improved. The second yatra will also benefit the opposition," he said.

Pawar, speaking about the situation in Manipur, said that the opposition parties wanted PM Modi to visit the state. "India cannot afford instability in the northeastern states. PM Modi thought visiting Manipur is not important. Every PM, so far, has discussed issues of national importance with the opposition. However, Modi hardly shows up for such meetings. He has no dialogue with the opposition, which is needed in times of crisis," added Pawar.

He also claimed that Modi's investment policies are Gujarat-centric.

BRS fate to be decided in Telangana elections
When asked about Bharat Rashtra Samiti's impact on Maharashtra, Pawar said he was not worried about it and the party's fate will be decided in the assembly election of Telangana. "As far I know, people have decided to change the government," he said.

Unconstitutional things happening in WFI
Pawar said the decision of the World Wrestling Federation to cancel the membership of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was a loss to hardworking wrestlers. "In recent times, several unconstitutional things were happening in WFI. I am going to write to the sports ministry to at least appoint a committee and make the WFI work," he said.

Phone-tapping casePawar, when asked about the closure of a file by CBI in a phone-tapping case involving IPS officer Rashmi Shukla, said, "We had the information about phone tapping of opposition leaders. It was sheer misuse of power. People in power have not given attention to investigate the matter properly."

Civic polls outcome fear
Pawar also slammed the state government for not holding elections to the local bodies. "The concerns of the people are addressed directly by the local bodies. People in power do not dare to hold the elections as they fear that people will show them their place if the elections take place," said Pawar.