Congress gives NCP benefit of doubt

NEW DELHI: As their worst fears about NCP chief Sharad Pawar came true when they had completely dissolved, Congress was ready on Saturday morning to address a press conference in the capital to vent its anger. But it cancelled it in no time.


In Maharashtra, Congress leaders decided to stay out of Pawar’s press meet with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray where the former claimed innocence and blamed the “betrayal” on Ajit Pawar’s revolt.

But when Congress biggies led by Ahmed Patel and Mallikarjun Kharge met the press, they appeared to give a benefit of doubt to senior Pawar. Even

Randeep Surjewala

said Congress believed Pawar. There was no rebuke of the Maratha strongman.

Congress’s suspicions of Sharad Pawar are rooted both in the chequered equations they share and the NCP’s boss’ reputation as a wily nimble-footed politician who has never felt fettered by considerations of consistency or ideology. In 2014, Pawar offered unconditional support to BJP in Maharashtra before enlisting himself as member of the “secular” block.

As the drama-filled day wore on, Congress appeared to have concluded that Pawar was not up to his wily ways in the swearing-in of BJP government but had been outfoxed by his nephew.

Though horses had bolted, Congress appeared willing to trust Pawar but seemed as eager to verify. The party conveyed that its trust be returned with some demonstrable evidence of loyalty to the coalition hammered out between Sena, NCP and Congress the night before. The reactions appeared to follow the pattern. During the 20-day process following the deadlock between BJP and Sena post-poll results, Congress did not know how to treat the offer of coup from the ally with whom they have had strange ties. Having revolted against Sonia Gandhi over the “foreign origin” issue and split Congress, Pawar had come back to parent party for a coalition in Maharashtra and even joined the UPA.

The Maharashtra drama has consequences for a longstanding relationship between Congress and NCP. If it does not play out as Congress expects, the trust factor may vanish like after Pawar’s revolt in 1999 and even lead to severing of ties. It would be a big loss for UPA which has counted on the Maratha outfit as an ally in the post-Modi phase of politics.

An AICC office-bearer said he was circumspect about Pawar’s claims of innocence till he proved otherwise. One platform to prove his claim was the “legislature party meeting” that NCP convened in the evening.