The NCP has said that the issue of Sharad Pawar’s position as No.2 in the Cabinet is being blown out of proportion, while stating that the party is unhappy with some issues and has conveyed this to the Prime Minister.
However, the party has blamed a section of the Congress for misleading the media on the issue and planting wrong stories on the standoff in the name of sources.
Addressing media after a crucial meeting of the party, NCP leader Praful Patel said Sharad Pawar has raised some important issues regarding the running of coalition and governance in a communication to Prime Minister on Thursday evening.
The party felt that the government should be more decisive and more focussed on issues that concern the people to gear up for the next elections, Patel said.
Both the Prime Minister and UPA chiarperson Sonia Gandhi have already discussed these issues with the NCP chief, he said.
While the Prime Minister called Sharad Pawar on Thursday evening, Sonia Gandhi met him on Friday morning and discussed these issues, Praful Patel said.
The NCP leader, however, evaded a direct reply on the reports of resignation.
Commenting on the issue of No.2 slot in the Cabinet, Praful Patel said that it is not dependent on the numbers the party has in the Parliament but on the stature of Sharad Pawar.
If the seating position was dependent on the numbers Sharad Pawar would not be sitting next to Sonia Gandhi, he said.
Defending Pawar, he said that the NCP supremo is not such a petty leader to raise such a small issue in the media.
The NCP, meanwhile, has accused a section of the Congress of misleading the media on the current standoff between the two parties.
Praful Patel made a direct attack on its ally and said that some Congress leaders were intentionally planting stories and rumours in the media in the name of sources.
He said the NCP would be meeting again on Monday to discuss the issues.
The NCP strongly feels it is time to gear up for the next elections.