NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said he will not contest <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-to-stretch-out-for-over-a-month-from-april-11-to-may-19-results-on-may-23-202404">the 2019 Lok Sabha polls</a>.&nbsp;

"I thought that already two members of my family are contesting polls this time and hence I felt this is right time to take decision to not contest since I already have contested 14 times in the past," Pawar said.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar: I thought that already two members of my family are contesting polls this time and hence I felt this is right time to take decision to not contest since I already have contested 14 times in the past <a href="https://t.co/Q7ElDQqXte">pic.twitter.com/Q7ElDQqXte</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1105045333783052296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Pawar is president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999 after breaking away from the Congress

He is currently a Rajya Sabha member of parliament, and leader of his party in the upper house.&nbsp;

Pawar has been chief minister of Maharashtra three times. He has also been a union minister of defence and agriculture.&nbsp;

Pawar was on Monday asked if he was not contesting the upcoming polls because <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/party-getting-maximum-seats-will-claim-pms-post-says-sharad-pawar-161885">he was worried he might be beaten</a>.

"I have successfully faced 14 elections. Do you think a fifteenth will deter me?" the news agency PTI quoted Pawar as replying.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said he will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "I thought that already two members of my family are contesting polls this time and hence I felt this is right time to take decision to not contest since I already have contested 14 times in the past," Pawar said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said he will not contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "I thought that already two members of my family are contesting polls this time and hence I felt this is right time to take decision to not contest since I already have contested 14 times in the past," Pawar said. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar: I thought that already two members of my family are contesting polls this time and hence I felt this is right time to take decision to not contest since I already have contested 14 times in the past pic.twitter.com/Q7ElDQqXte — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019 × Pawar is president of the Nationalist Congress Party which he founded in 1999 after breaking away from the Congress He is currently a Rajya Sabha member of parliament, and leader of his party in the upper house. Pawar has been chief minister of Maharashtra three times. He has also been a union minister of defence and agriculture. Pawar was on Monday asked if he was not contesting the upcoming polls because he was worried he might be beaten. "I have successfully faced 14 elections. Do you think a fifteenth will deter me?" the news agency PTI quoted Pawar as replying.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar says he will not contest Lok Sabha polls

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said the opposition will form a pre-poll alliance before the Lok Sabha elections.&nbsp;

"We'll work together at the national level. We'll have a common minimum agenda. We'll have a pre-poll alliance," Mamata said Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Mamata made her statement after meeting with the NCP's Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naid, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Delhi Chief Minsister Arvind Kejriwal, and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after a meeting with Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal: We'll work together at the national level. We'll have a common minimum agenda. We'll have a pre-poll alliance <a href="https://t.co/da9lCV5hIE">pic.twitter.com/da9lCV5hIE</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1095724544361345025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"We had a very constructive meeting. We agreed that the principal target for all of us is to fight against the assault on institutes," Congress President Rahul Gandhi said.&nbsp;

"We agreed to start a conversation about a common minimum programme and we have a comittment that we're all going to work together," Rahul added. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Congress Pres Rahul Gandhi after a meeting with Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal: We had a very constructive meeting. We agreed that principal target for all of us is to fight against assault on institutes being carried out by BJP <a href="https://t.co/XIuWB52LUg">pic.twitter.com/XIuWB52LUg</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1095722817067216896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Mamata had already provided an inkling about&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/we-will-fight-the-lok-sabha-elections-together-mamata-banerjee-197206">an opposition alliance</a> Wednesday evening at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.&nbsp;

"We will fight together in the coming days," Mamata had said at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.&nbsp;

She added then that her fight against the Congress and the CPM would remain confined to the state — but that at the national level they would fight together.&nbsp;

Mamata had been joined at Jantar Mantar by Naidu and Kejriwal.&nbsp;

"We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election," Naidu had said on Wednesday evening.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said the opposition will form a pre-poll alliance before the Lok Sabha elections. "We'll work together at the national level.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said the opposition will form a pre-poll alliance before the Lok Sabha elections. "We'll work together at the national level. We'll have a common minimum agenda. We'll have a pre-poll alliance," Mamata said Wednesday night. Mamata made her statement after meeting with the NCP's Sharad Pawar, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naid, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah, Delhi Chief Minsister Arvind Kejriwal, and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after a meeting with Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal: We'll work together at the national level. We'll have a common minimum agenda. We'll have a pre-poll alliance pic.twitter.com/da9lCV5hIE — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019 × "We had a very constructive meeting. We agreed that the principal target for all of us is to fight against the assault on institutes," Congress President Rahul Gandhi said. "We agreed to start a conversation about a common minimum programme and we have a comittment that we're all going to work together," Rahul added. Congress Pres Rahul Gandhi after a meeting with Sharad Pawar, Chandrababu Naidu, Farooq Abdullah, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal: We had a very constructive meeting. We agreed that principal target for all of us is to fight against assault on institutes being carried out by BJP pic.twitter.com/XIuWB52LUg — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019 × Mamata had already provided an inkling about an opposition alliance Wednesday evening at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. "We will fight together in the coming days," Mamata had said at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. She added then that her fight against the Congress and the CPM would remain confined to the state — but that at the national level they would fight together. Mamata had been joined at Jantar Mantar by Naidu and Kejriwal. "We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election," Naidu had said on Wednesday evening.

Lok Sabha elections: Opposition will form pre-poll alliance, says Mamata Banerjee

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/if-opposition-wins-rahul-gandhi-open-to-mayawati-mamata-as-pm-in-2019-reports-154267">the opposition will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together</a>.&nbsp;

"We will fight together in the coming days," Mamata said at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.&nbsp;

She added that her fight against the Congress and the CPM would remain confined to the state — but that at the national level they would fight together.&nbsp;

"Let them fight against me, I don't mind. For interest of the nation, I'm ready to sacrifice my life/ party," she added.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Mamata Banerjee: Aane waale din ekhatte hoke humlog ladenge. Hamare saath Congress, CPM ka jo bhi fight rahega state mein rahega. National level mein hum ek saath ladenge. Let them fight against me, I don't mind. For interest of the nation, I'm ready to sacrifice my life/party <a href="https://t.co/Bi3RWcOnXx">pic.twitter.com/Bi3RWcOnXx</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1095661685753270273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Mamata has of course just emerged from <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-sits-on-dharna-after-cbi-kolkata-police-face-off-194890">a massive clash against the Centre</a> after the CBI showed up unannounced at the Kolkata Police chief's home, accusing him of slow-walking the investigations into the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams in Bengal.&nbsp;

Mamata had said the CBI's turning up unannounced at Rajeev Kumar's home was a "destruction of the federal structure", and had a few hours later announced her "Save the Constitution" dharna.&nbsp;

She called off her dharna after a closed-door meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. (A number of opposition leaders had called Mamata after her run-in with the Centre, offering their support.)&nbsp;

"We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election," Naidu said on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Andhra Pradesh CM &amp; TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi: We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election. <a href="https://t.co/55hfgefv5p">pic.twitter.com/55hfgefv5p</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1095661894524911616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ANI meanwhile reported that Mamata, Naidu, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Jammu&nbsp;and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah would meet later on Wednesday at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's home.&nbsp;

A notable absentee from Wednesday's meeting will of course be Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.&nbsp;

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday that the opposition will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together. "We will fight together in the coming days," Mamata said at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said Wednesday that the opposition will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together. "We will fight together in the coming days," Mamata said at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. She added that her fight against the Congress and the CPM would remain confined to the state — but that at the national level they would fight together. "Let them fight against me, I don't mind. For interest of the nation, I'm ready to sacrifice my life/ party," she added. Mamata Banerjee: Aane waale din ekhatte hoke humlog ladenge. Hamare saath Congress, CPM ka jo bhi fight rahega state mein rahega. National level mein hum ek saath ladenge. Let them fight against me, I don't mind. For interest of the nation, I'm ready to sacrifice my life/party pic.twitter.com/Bi3RWcOnXx — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019 × Mamata has of course just emerged from a massive clash against the Centre after the CBI showed up unannounced at the Kolkata Police chief's home, accusing him of slow-walking the investigations into the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund scams in Bengal. Mamata had said the CBI's turning up unannounced at Rajeev Kumar's home was a "destruction of the federal structure", and had a few hours later announced her "Save the Constitution" dharna. She called off her dharna after a closed-door meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. (A number of opposition leaders had called Mamata after her run-in with the Centre, offering their support.) "We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election," Naidu said on Wednesday at Jantar Mantar. Andhra Pradesh CM & TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi: We are in danger, we have to protect this nation, democracy is under threat. If all of us are not united, this is the last election for all of us, tomorrow there won't be any election. pic.twitter.com/55hfgefv5p — ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2019 × ANI meanwhile reported that Mamata, Naidu, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah would meet later on Wednesday at NCP chief Sharad Pawar's home. A notable absentee from Wednesday's meeting will of course be Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.

Opposition will fight the Lok Sabha elections together: Mamata Banerjee

The Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress will be contesting together in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, NCP leader Praful Patel said on Saturday.

"We have decided that NCP and Congress will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together on 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra," Patel said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Praful Patel, NCP: We have decided that NCP &amp; Congress will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections together on 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. However, a decision is yet to be taken for the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats of the state. <a href="https://t.co/INMjJj9gxr">pic.twitter.com/INMjJj9gxr</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1081391025787088896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"However, a decision is yet to be taken for the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats of the state," he added.

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80.

In December, NCP president Sharad Pawar had also confirmed that his party and Congress have reached consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats.

"We have decided the seat-sharing on 40 seats, still, eight are left. If any consensus is not reached on remaining eight seats then the final decision will be taken by the two party chiefs in New Delhi," ANI reported Pawar as saying.

During 2014 general elections, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress had fielded political contenders for 27 constituencies in Maharashtra, while the Pawar-led NCP had contested on 21 seats. Earlier, the seat sharing was fixed at 26:22, but later the NCP decided not to contest from the Hatkanangale constituency as it did not have any contender.&nbsp;

This seat was later contested by the Congress.

Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80.

The Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress will be contesting together in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, NCP leader Praful Patel said on Saturday. "We have decided that NCP and Congress will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections together on 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra," Patel said. Praful Patel, NCP: We have decided that NCP & Congress will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections together on 40 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. However, a decision is yet to be taken for the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats of the state. pic.twitter.com/INMjJj9gxr — ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2019 × "However, a decision is yet to be taken for the remaining 8 Lok Sabha seats of the state," he added. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80. In December, NCP president Sharad Pawar had also confirmed that his party and Congress have reached consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats. "We have decided the seat-sharing on 40 seats, still, eight are left. If any consensus is not reached on remaining eight seats then the final decision will be taken by the two party chiefs in New Delhi," ANI reported Pawar as saying. During 2014 general elections, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress had fielded political contenders for 27 constituencies in Maharashtra, while the Pawar-led NCP had contested on 21 seats. Earlier, the seat sharing was fixed at 26:22, but later the NCP decided not to contest from the Hatkanangale constituency as it did not have any contender. This seat was later contested by the Congress.

NCP, Congress to contest Lok Sabha polls together in Maharashtra: Praful Patel

Congress party and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/former-ncp-leader-tariq-anwar-joins-congress-173795">National Congress Party (NCP) </a>have reached a consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.&nbsp;

Speaking to ANI, NCP president <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sharad-pawar-hits-out-at-pm-modi-over-cbi-row-172994">Sharad Pawar</a>, stated on Monday, "In Maharashtra, NCP and Congress will together contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections along with Peasants and Workers Party of India.&nbsp;

Till now, we have decided the seat-sharing on 40 seats, still, eight are left. If any consensus is not reached on remaining eight seats then the final decision will be taken by the two party chiefs in New Delhi.

"During 2014 general elections, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress had fielded political contenders for 27 constituencies in Maharashtra, while the Pawar-led NCP had contested on 21 seats.&nbsp;

Earlier, the seat sharing was fixed at 26:22, but later the NCP decided not to contest from the Hatkanangale constituency as it did not have any contender. This seat was later contested by the Congress.

Congress party and National Congress Party (NCP) have reached a consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Speaking to ANI, NCP president Sharad Pawar, stated on Monday, "In Maharashtra, NCP and Congress will together contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections along with Peasants and Workers Party of India.

Congress party and National Congress Party (NCP) have reached a consensus on sharing 40 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra. Speaking to ANI, NCP president Sharad Pawar, stated on Monday, "In Maharashtra, NCP and Congress will together contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections along with Peasants and Workers Party of India. Till now, we have decided the seat-sharing on 40 seats, still, eight are left. If any consensus is not reached on remaining eight seats then the final decision will be taken by the two party chiefs in New Delhi. "During 2014 general elections, the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress had fielded political contenders for 27 constituencies in Maharashtra, while the Pawar-led NCP had contested on 21 seats. Earlier, the seat sharing was fixed at 26:22, but later the NCP decided not to contest from the Hatkanangale constituency as it did not have any contender. This seat was later contested by the Congress.

2019 polls: Congress, NCP reach seat-sharing consensus in Maharashtra

In an effort&nbsp;to build a strong opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

In his second visit to the Capital in less than a week, Naidu will call on Gandhi as part of his efforts to bring all opposition parties on a common platform.

Addressing a party programme in Amaravati on Wednesday night, Naidu said he would meet Gandhi in the national capital on Thursday.

This will be Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief`s first meeting with Congress president, though the two had shared dais at the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in May.

Naidu had called on Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and BSP leader Mayawati on Saturday.

He is likely to meet NCP leader Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Left parties on Thursday.

The Andhra Pradesh chief minister said he was trying to bring all like-minded opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to BJP.

In an effort to build a strong opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

In an effort to build a strong opposition alliance to take on the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu will meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday. In his second visit to the Capital in less than a week, Naidu will call on Gandhi as part of his efforts to bring all opposition parties on a common platform. Addressing a party programme in Amaravati on Wednesday night, Naidu said he would meet Gandhi in the national capital on Thursday. This will be Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief`s first meeting with Congress president, though the two had shared dais at the swearing-in of Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy in May. Naidu had called on Aam Admi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal, Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav and BSP leader Mayawati on Saturday. He is likely to meet NCP leader Sharad Pawar and leaders of the Left parties on Thursday. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister said he was trying to bring all like-minded opposition parties together to form an alliance as an alternative to BJP.

Chandrababu Naidu to discuss opposition unity with Rahul today

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Tuesday said if the central government was "effective", there would not have been bribery charges at the highest level in the CBI, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act over the matter.

He also attacked the BJP-led Centre over the Rafale jet deal and demanded a probe into it by a joint parliamentary committee.

Pawar was replying to queries during an interaction at the "Mumbai Manthan" conclave organised by television news channel Aaj Tak.

The feud between Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana turned murkier with the arrest of a deputy superintendent of police in the Special Investigation Team headed by Asthana over bribery charges.

Asked about the Modi government's performance, Pawar said people's expectations from the present dispensation were not fulfilled.

"What was promised in 2014 is not seen on the ground after four years. (Former prime minister) Manmohan Singh tried his best to give a good government, intentions were best. That is not the situation today.

"If the present government was effective, there would not have been bribery charges at the highest level in the CBI. Still the prime minister is silent. He should act," the former Union minister said.

Pawar said Modi was a strong leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but not the country.

"His ministerial team does not have the capacity to deliver. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is the most powerful. All decisions are taken there and the files are sent to the ministers to sign. The present government does only 'man ki baat' and does not listen to 'jan ki baat' (people's voice)," he added.

Firing a fresh salvo over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Pawar said the Centre should clarify why the price of one aircraft increased from Rs 570 crore to Rs 1,600 crore.

"There is room for suspicion. So there should be a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe. If the BJP stalled Parliament for three weeks for a JPC probe in (the) Bofors (case), why should the BJP, now in power, oppose a JPC," he asked.

Asked if he felt there was corruption in the Rafale deal as alleged by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Pawar said he had no information about it.

"I only know the aircraft is good. Rahul Gandhi may have more information than me about corruption," he said.

Led by the Congress, the opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government, alleging that it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost.

The government has denied the allegations of irregularities in the Rafale deal and industrialist Anil Ambani has also dismissed the Congress's charge that he got undue benefits under it.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Tuesday said if the central government was "effective", there would not have been bribery charges at the highest level in the CBI, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act over the matter.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar Tuesday said if the central government was "effective", there would not have been bribery charges at the highest level in the CBI, and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act over the matter. He also attacked the BJP-led Centre over the Rafale jet deal and demanded a probe into it by a joint parliamentary committee. Pawar was replying to queries during an interaction at the "Mumbai Manthan" conclave organised by television news channel Aaj Tak. The feud between Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana turned murkier with the arrest of a deputy superintendent of police in the Special Investigation Team headed by Asthana over bribery charges. Asked about the Modi government's performance, Pawar said people's expectations from the present dispensation were not fulfilled. "What was promised in 2014 is not seen on the ground after four years. (Former prime minister) Manmohan Singh tried his best to give a good government, intentions were best. That is not the situation today. "If the present government was effective, there would not have been bribery charges at the highest level in the CBI. Still the prime minister is silent. He should act," the former Union minister said. Pawar said Modi was a strong leader for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but not the country. "His ministerial team does not have the capacity to deliver. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is the most powerful. All decisions are taken there and the files are sent to the ministers to sign. The present government does only 'man ki baat' and does not listen to 'jan ki baat' (people's voice)," he added. Firing a fresh salvo over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Pawar said the Centre should clarify why the price of one aircraft increased from Rs 570 crore to Rs 1,600 crore. "There is room for suspicion. So there should be a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe. If the BJP stalled Parliament for three weeks for a JPC probe in (the) Bofors (case), why should the BJP, now in power, oppose a JPC," he asked. Asked if he felt there was corruption in the Rafale deal as alleged by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Pawar said he had no information about it. "I only know the aircraft is good. Rahul Gandhi may have more information than me about corruption," he said. Led by the Congress, the opposition parties have been attacking the Modi government, alleging that it is procuring 36 Rafale jets from France at an exorbitantly high cost. The government has denied the allegations of irregularities in the Rafale deal and industrialist Anil Ambani has also dismissed the Congress's charge that he got undue benefits under it.

Sharad Pawar hits out at PM Modi over CBI row

Former union&nbsp;minister and NCP leader Tariq Anwar quit NCP over Sharad Pawar’s proximity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking with WION Anwar said that Sharad Pawar’s statement in support of the Prime Minister on Rafale is not acceptable.

“Lot of mixed signals were coming from the party. People had started to say that NCP can go with BJP anytime. We also initially supported BJP in Maharashtra,” said Tariq Anwar. He also said that he respects NCP President Sharad Pawar but ideology cannot be diluted before the elections when a united Opposition is trying to mount a challenge against Narendra Modi.

When asked about his future, he said, "All options are open.”

Tariq Anwar also said that party was giving out mixed signals to the electorate on the side which it might take and that was not acceptable to him. 
&nbsp; 
Tariq Anwar started his career with the Congress Party. He quit Congress Party with Sharad Pawar and PA Sangama on Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin in 1999.

All three of them to found NCP which subsequently aligned with Congress to defeat BJP in 2004. &nbsp;Tariq Anwar remained associated with Sharad Pawar for more than 2 decades.

He in his career been elected to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Congress has been very aggressive on the Rafale deal and using it as a principle plank to target and attack BJP on the issue of corruption.

The issue personally has been addressed in public domain number of times by Congress President Rahul Gandhi himself. Tariq Anwar was elected to Lok Sabha from Katihar in Bihar in 1980 on a Congress ticket.

Former union minister and NCP leader Tariq Anwar quit NCP over Sharad Pawar’s proximity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking with WION Anwar said that Sharad Pawar’s statement in support of the Prime Minister on Rafale is not acceptable.

Former union minister and NCP leader Tariq Anwar quit NCP over Sharad Pawar’s proximity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking with WION Anwar said that Sharad Pawar’s statement in support of the Prime Minister on Rafale is not acceptable. “Lot of mixed signals were coming from the party. People had started to say that NCP can go with BJP anytime. We also initially supported BJP in Maharashtra,” said Tariq Anwar. He also said that he respects NCP President Sharad Pawar but ideology cannot be diluted before the elections when a united Opposition is trying to mount a challenge against Narendra Modi. When asked about his future, he said, "All options are open.” Tariq Anwar also said that party was giving out mixed signals to the electorate on the side which it might take and that was not acceptable to him. Tariq Anwar started his career with the Congress Party. He quit Congress Party with Sharad Pawar and PA Sangama on Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin in 1999. All three of them to found NCP which subsequently aligned with Congress to defeat BJP in 2004. Tariq Anwar remained associated with Sharad Pawar for more than 2 decades. He in his career been elected to both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Congress has been very aggressive on the Rafale deal and using it as a principle plank to target and attack BJP on the issue of corruption. The issue personally has been addressed in public domain number of times by Congress President Rahul Gandhi himself. Tariq Anwar was elected to Lok Sabha from Katihar in Bihar in 1980 on a Congress ticket.

Tariq Anwar quits NCP over Pawar’s dalliance with BJP 

At a time the opposition led by the Congress is mounting attacks on the government over the Rafale fighter jet issue, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions.&nbsp;

In an interview to a Marathi news channel, former Defence Minister Pawar also said the opposition's demand to share technical details relating to the fighter jet "made no sense".&nbsp;

He, however, said there was no harm for the government to disclose prices of the aircraft.

"I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Pawar told the news channel.

He, however, said the way Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the government's side led to confusion in the minds of people.

"Now, (Union Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley can be seen articulating (government's stand) on the issue (instead of Sitharaman)," he added.&nbsp;

The Congress has launched an offensive against the BJP government over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and violation of rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It has accused the government of causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by bypassing state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract.

At a time the opposition led by the Congress is mounting attacks on the government over the Rafale fighter jet issue, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions.

At a time the opposition led by the Congress is mounting attacks on the government over the Rafale fighter jet issue, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has said people "do not have doubts" over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intentions. In an interview to a Marathi news channel, former Defence Minister Pawar also said the opposition's demand to share technical details relating to the fighter jet "made no sense". He, however, said there was no harm for the government to disclose prices of the aircraft. "I don't think people have doubts about Modi's intentions personally," Pawar told the news channel. He, however, said the way Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the government's side led to confusion in the minds of people. "Now, (Union Finance Minister Arun) Jaitley can be seen articulating (government's stand) on the issue (instead of Sitharaman)," he added. The Congress has launched an offensive against the BJP government over the Rafale deal, alleging corruption and violation of rules by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has accused the government of causing loss to the public exchequer and endangering national security by bypassing state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in favour of some businessman "friends" for offset contract.

People don't have doubts over PM Modi's intentions over Rafale deal: Sharad Pawar

The Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday trivialised the assassination threats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the letter was being used to garner people`s sympathy, reports news agency ANI.

He said, "They say there was a threatening letter. I spoke to a retired police officer, who had worked for CID. He said there is no substance in the letter. The letter is being used to garner people`s sympathy."

Claiming that the people arrested for inciting the Bhima -Koregaon violence were innocent, Pawar said, "When like-minded people came together to organise Elgar Parishad, they were called Naxals and arrested. Everyone knows who executed the Bhima-Koregaon violence, but those who have no link with it were arrested. This is a misuse of power."

For the uninitiated, the Pune police told a court that they were in possession of a letter, seized from the residence of one of the five people who has been arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, which talks about the assassination of Prime Minister Modi in Rajiv Gandhi-type incident.

"Modi-led Hindu fascism is bulldozing its way into the lives of indigenous Adivasis. In spite of big defeats like Bihar and West Bengal, Modi has successfully established BJP government in more than 15 states. If this pace continues, then it would mean immense trouble for the party... Comrade Kisan and few other senior comrades have proposed concrete steps to end Modi-raj," the letter read."We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi type incident," it added.

In the letter, it was also written that for Maoists, "defeating Hindu fascism has been our core agenda and a major concern for the party". The assassination plot`s revelation has generated reactions across the political spectrum.&nbsp;

Pune Police had told a court that they were in possession of a letter, seized from the residence of one of the five people who has been arrested in connection with the violence in Bhima-Koregaon, which talks about the assassination of Prime Minister Modi in a Rajiv Gandhi-type incident

The Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday trivialised the assassination threats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the letter was being used to garner people`s sympathy, reports news agency ANI. He said, "They say there was a threatening letter. I spoke to a retired police officer, who had worked for CID. He said there is no substance in the letter. The letter is being used to garner people`s sympathy." Claiming that the people arrested for inciting the Bhima -Koregaon violence were innocent, Pawar said, "When like-minded people came together to organise Elgar Parishad, they were called Naxals and arrested. Everyone knows who executed the Bhima-Koregaon violence, but those who have no link with it were arrested. This is a misuse of power." For the uninitiated, the Pune police told a court that they were in possession of a letter, seized from the residence of one of the five people who has been arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, which talks about the assassination of Prime Minister Modi in Rajiv Gandhi-type incident. "Modi-led Hindu fascism is bulldozing its way into the lives of indigenous Adivasis. In spite of big defeats like Bihar and West Bengal, Modi has successfully established BJP government in more than 15 states. If this pace continues, then it would mean immense trouble for the party... Comrade Kisan and few other senior comrades have proposed concrete steps to end Modi-raj," the letter read."We are thinking along the lines of another Rajiv Gandhi type incident," it added. In the letter, it was also written that for Maoists, "defeating Hindu fascism has been our core agenda and a major concern for the party". The assassination plot`s revelation has generated reactions across the political spectrum.

Modi assassination letter being used to garner public sympathy: Sharad Pawar

Drawing a parallel between present day's political environment and the one that existed during 1977, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said a united opposition, just like 40 years ago, can take on the might of a single party.

"In 1977, the downfall of one party started, and at one point, the government collapsed. A similar situation can be a possibility now if the opposition comes together," Sharad Pawar told media persons here.

The ruling Congress lost the general election in 1977, held just after the removal of nearly two-year-long Emergency.

Morarji Desai-led coalition won that election and remained in power until 1980.

The NCP supremo's comments came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost bye-elections in Kairana and Noorpur seats in Uttar Pradesh.

The Lok Sabha Kairana seat was won by Rashtriya Lok Dal's candidate, Tabassum Hasan, supported by the joint opposition, while Noorpur assembly seat was taken away by the Samajwadi Party.

The opposition parties have already indicated its intention and displayed strength when the likes of Congress' Rahul Gandhi, SP's Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee among others came together for the swearing-in of Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka last month.&nbsp;

The NCP supremo's comments came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost bye-elections in Kairana and Noorpur seats in Uttar Pradesh

Drawing a parallel between present day's political environment and the one that existed during 1977, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar said a united opposition, just like 40 years ago, can take on the might of a single party. "In 1977, the downfall of one party started, and at one point, the government collapsed. A similar situation can be a possibility now if the opposition comes together," Sharad Pawar told media persons here. The ruling Congress lost the general election in 1977, held just after the removal of nearly two-year-long Emergency. Morarji Desai-led coalition won that election and remained in power until 1980. The NCP supremo's comments came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost bye-elections in Kairana and Noorpur seats in Uttar Pradesh. The Lok Sabha Kairana seat was won by Rashtriya Lok Dal's candidate, Tabassum Hasan, supported by the joint opposition, while Noorpur assembly seat was taken away by the Samajwadi Party. The opposition parties have already indicated its intention and displayed strength when the likes of Congress' Rahul Gandhi, SP's Akhilesh Yadav and Trinamool Congress' Mamata Banerjee among others came together for the swearing-in of Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy in Karnataka last month.

Today's political environment similar to one in 1977: Sharad Pawar

NCP leader Sharad Pawar found himself stuck inside a room for some 30 minutes on Wednesday.

Pawar had called a press conference in Maharashtra's Satara district.&nbsp;

There were some 50 to 60 journalists attending.&nbsp;

After Pawar had finished speaking, he tried to leave and found the door would not open.&nbsp;

For half an hour, Pawar and the journalists tried to get the door open — but to no avail.

Finally, when all else had failed, the door's lock had to be broken.&nbsp;

Pawar had called a press conference in Maharashtra's Satara district. After he finished speaking to the reporters present, he found he couldn't get out of the room

NCP leader Sharad Pawar found himself stuck inside a room for some 30 minutes on Wednesday. Pawar had called a press conference in Maharashtra's Satara district. There were some 50 to 60 journalists attending. After Pawar had finished speaking, he tried to leave and found the door would not open. For half an hour, Pawar and the journalists tried to get the door open — but to no avail. Finally, when all else had failed, the door's lock had to be broken.

Watch: Sharad Pawar calls press conference, gets stuck in room

Nationalist Congress Party or NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Sunday that he regretted consuming tobacco and supari, adding that he wished someone had warned him to get rid of the life-threatening habit 40 years ago.

Pawar, a cancer survivor, was speaking in Mumbai at the launch of the Indian Dental Association&#39;s (IDA) mission to eradicate oral cancer by 2022.

The former Union agriculture minister said he suffered tremendously because of surgery, the removal of teeth and the resulting difficulty in opening his mouth wide, in swallowing food as well as talking.

He said he was pained that lakhs of Indians continued to fall prey to the scourge and promised to raise the issue in Parliament.

Pawar also pledged support to the Indian Dental Association&#39;s cause of eradicating oral cancer and curbing the menace of tobacco usage.

The event was held to commemorate the World Oral Health Day.

Pawar also pledged support to the Indian Dental Association's cause of eradicating oral cancer and curbing the menace of tobacco usage

Nationalist Congress Party or NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Sunday that he regretted consuming tobacco and supari, adding that he wished someone had warned him to get rid of the life-threatening habit 40 years ago. Pawar, a cancer survivor, was speaking in Mumbai at the launch of the Indian Dental Association's (IDA) mission to eradicate oral cancer by 2022. The former Union agriculture minister said he suffered tremendously because of surgery, the removal of teeth and the resulting difficulty in opening his mouth wide, in swallowing food as well as talking. He said he was pained that lakhs of Indians continued to fall prey to the scourge and promised to raise the issue in Parliament. Pawar also pledged support to the Indian Dental Association's cause of eradicating oral cancer and curbing the menace of tobacco usage. The event was held to commemorate the World Oral Health Day.

Wish someone warned me against tobacco usage 40 years ago: Sharad Pawar

The NCP cadre in Mumbai is rife with talks of NCP chief Sharad Pawar joining hands with MNS leader Raj Thackeray following a meeting between the two leaders at Pawar&#39;s Nepean Sea Road residence in Mumbai on Saturday.

A report in DNA quoted NCP leaders as saying that Sharad Pawar and Raj Thackeray are joining forces to pose a challenge to the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

An NCP leader requesting anonymity told DNA that Sharad Pawar met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the two decided that the NCP supremo would handle the Congress-NCP alliance and other small parties who wish to give a joint fight to the BJP in Maharashtra. He said Sharad Pawar was thinking on the lines of the MNS being a part of the Congress-NCP alliance.

&quot;Sharad Pawar saheb had a meeting with Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi where it was decided that Pawar Saheb will solely handle the Congress and NCP alliance and other smaller parties who wish to give a joint fight to the BJP in Maharashtra. As a part of a larger plan, Pawar saheb is toying with the idea of MNS being a part of the Congress-NCP alliance. He also wants MNS to do well so it will have a role to play in state politics,&quot; the senior NCP leader told DNA. Also read - <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opposition-should-unite-to-achieve-modi-mukt-india-raj-thackeray-36293">Opposition should unite to achieve &#39;Modi-Mukt&#39; India: Raj Thackeray</a>

&quot;Congress is also struggling to put the numbers together. If some seats are given to the MNS and the rest are with Congress and the NCP, then this formidable alliance will be in a better position to snatch the reign from the BJP. We have the support of Marathas, Dalits and Muslims, but this won&#39;t help win more seats in Mumbai and Thane. If Raj Thackeray joins, using the Marathi manoos plank, other communities will also vote. This will help get more seats and come in power in 2019,&quot; he added.

Raj Thackeray&#39;s MNS has a significant presence in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nasik and Pune in Maharashtra.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said dismissed talks of a future alliance as speculation. &quot;A meeting between two party leaders does not mean there is talk of a future alliance. The Thackeray family and Pawar saheb share a good rapport. We should not read too much between the lines at this moment,&quot; Nawab Malik said.

Maharashtra Congress leaders, however said that it would be difficult to take Raj Thackeray as an alliance partner since the two parties had &quot;very different ideologies&quot; and were against North Indians which formed the Congress&#39;s voters base in Mumbai.

&nbsp;&quot;We have very different ideologies. Our voters are not homogeneous. Thackeray and his party workers have assaulted North Indian hawkers and taxi drivers frequently. And North Indians are our voter base in Mumbai. So we cannot hurt our traditional vote bank in any case,&quot; the Congress leader told DNA requesting anonymity.

Another NCP leader, however, said that the Shiv Sena might in the end ally with the BJP because of a common Hindutva agenda.

&quot;Their actions do not hold any truth because of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray&#39;s fickle stand. In the end, they may go with the BJP in the name of their Hindutva agenda. They also want to enjoy power and hence they will not leave the government despite tall talk that has been going on for the past several months. Therefore, Congress and the NCP need to go the extra mile to stitch the larger umbrella alliance with all vote catchers and smaller parties and social groups. No one is untouchable in politics and politics is the art of all possibilities. Pawar saheb is astute enough to use these skills at the right time,&quot; the NCP leader told DNA on the condition of anonymity.

 
&nbsp;

The NCP cadre in Mumbai is rife with talks of the NCP chief joining hands with the MNS leader following a meeting between them at Sharad Pawar's Nepean Sea Road residence in Mumbai on Saturday

The NCP cadre in Mumbai is rife with talks of NCP chief Sharad Pawar joining hands with MNS leader Raj Thackeray following a meeting between the two leaders at Pawar's Nepean Sea Road residence in Mumbai on Saturday. A report in DNA quoted NCP leaders as saying that Sharad Pawar and Raj Thackeray are joining forces to pose a challenge to the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. An NCP leader requesting anonymity told DNA that Sharad Pawar met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the two decided that the NCP supremo would handle the Congress-NCP alliance and other small parties who wish to give a joint fight to the BJP in Maharashtra. He said Sharad Pawar was thinking on the lines of the MNS being a part of the Congress-NCP alliance. "Sharad Pawar saheb had a meeting with Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Delhi where it was decided that Pawar Saheb will solely handle the Congress and NCP alliance and other smaller parties who wish to give a joint fight to the BJP in Maharashtra. As a part of a larger plan, Pawar saheb is toying with the idea of MNS being a part of the Congress-NCP alliance. He also wants MNS to do well so it will have a role to play in state politics," the senior NCP leader told DNA. Also read - Opposition should unite to achieve 'Modi-Mukt' India: Raj Thackeray "Congress is also struggling to put the numbers together. If some seats are given to the MNS and the rest are with Congress and the NCP, then this formidable alliance will be in a better position to snatch the reign from the BJP. We have the support of Marathas, Dalits and Muslims, but this won't help win more seats in Mumbai and Thane. If Raj Thackeray joins, using the Marathi manoos plank, other communities will also vote. This will help get more seats and come in power in 2019," he added. Raj Thackeray's MNS has a significant presence in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nasik and Pune in Maharashtra. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said dismissed talks of a future alliance as speculation. "A meeting between two party leaders does not mean there is talk of a future alliance. The Thackeray family and Pawar saheb share a good rapport. We should not read too much between the lines at this moment," Nawab Malik said. Maharashtra Congress leaders, however said that it would be difficult to take Raj Thackeray as an alliance partner since the two parties had "very different ideologies" and were against North Indians which formed the Congress's voters base in Mumbai. "We have very different ideologies. Our voters are not homogeneous. Thackeray and his party workers have assaulted North Indian hawkers and taxi drivers frequently. And North Indians are our voter base in Mumbai. So we cannot hurt our traditional vote bank in any case," the Congress leader told DNA requesting anonymity. Another NCP leader, however, said that the Shiv Sena might in the end ally with the BJP because of a common Hindutva agenda. "Their actions do not hold any truth because of Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's fickle stand. In the end, they may go with the BJP in the name of their Hindutva agenda. They also want to enjoy power and hence they will not leave the government despite tall talk that has been going on for the past several months. Therefore, Congress and the NCP need to go the extra mile to stitch the larger umbrella alliance with all vote catchers and smaller parties and social groups. No one is untouchable in politics and politics is the art of all possibilities. Pawar saheb is astute enough to use these skills at the right time," the NCP leader told DNA on the condition of anonymity.

Raj Thackeray, Sharad Pawar meeting fuels talk of alliance

Congress president Rahul Gandhi&#39;s meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar hours after the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Lok Sabha bypoll results were announced, shows that the Congress leadership is serious on forging a bigger alliance of opposition parties, the NCP said today.

In a major blow to the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party was trounced in the bypolls to three Lok Sabha seats, including the citadel of Yogi Adityanath&#39;s Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

&quot;Rahul Gandhi has started meeting various party leaders and began this practice by meeting Pawar saheb. The Congress president is meeting party presidents who are senior to him,&quot; NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said.

&quot;Despite the Congress being the bigger party, Rahul Gandhi has started meeting leaders of other parties. This shows they (Congress) are serious on making a bigger alliance,&quot; Malik, a former Maharashtra minister, told PTI here.

The NCP leader said, &quot;Rahul Gandhi wants that Pawar saheb should bring in more people (parties) in the country under the UPA fold.&quot;

Adityanath, who termed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samajwadi Party alliance as one of &quot;snake and mongoose&quot;, had said over-confidence and inability to understand the electoral understanding between the SP and the BSP led to the defeat in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats.

In Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal retained Araria Lok Sabha seat and Jehanabad Assembly constituency, while the BJP held on to Bhabua.

Rahul Gandhi had received some praise from Pawar last month, who said the Congress party chief was showing an inclination to &quot;learn and understand&quot; the issues facing the nation.

Asked if the Shiv Sena, the BJP&#39;s bickering alliance partner, will withdraw support to the Narendra Modi government, like the TDP did, Malik said, the &quot;Sena won&#39;t part ways with the BJP-led government.&quot;

&quot;They (Sena) are just bargaining. They don&#39;t have the courage to go solo,&quot; the NCP leader said.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today ended its four-year-old alliance with the BJP and walked out of the NDA, eight days after two of its Union ministers resigned over the Centre&#39;s refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.&nbsp;

'Rahul Gandhi has started meeting various party leaders and began this practice by meeting Pawar saheb. The Congress president is meeting party presidents who are senior to him,' NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's meeting with NCP chief Sharad Pawar hours after the Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Lok Sabha bypoll results were announced, shows that the Congress leadership is serious on forging a bigger alliance of opposition parties, the NCP said today. In a major blow to the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party was trounced in the bypolls to three Lok Sabha seats, including the citadel of Yogi Adityanath's Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. "Rahul Gandhi has started meeting various party leaders and began this practice by meeting Pawar saheb. The Congress president is meeting party presidents who are senior to him," NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said. "Despite the Congress being the bigger party, Rahul Gandhi has started meeting leaders of other parties. This shows they (Congress) are serious on making a bigger alliance," Malik, a former Maharashtra minister, told PTI here. The NCP leader said, "Rahul Gandhi wants that Pawar saheb should bring in more people (parties) in the country under the UPA fold." Adityanath, who termed the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samajwadi Party alliance as one of "snake and mongoose", had said over-confidence and inability to understand the electoral understanding between the SP and the BSP led to the defeat in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur seats. In Bihar, the Rashtriya Janata Dal retained Araria Lok Sabha seat and Jehanabad Assembly constituency, while the BJP held on to Bhabua. Rahul Gandhi had received some praise from Pawar last month, who said the Congress party chief was showing an inclination to "learn and understand" the issues facing the nation. Asked if the Shiv Sena, the BJP's bickering alliance partner, will withdraw support to the Narendra Modi government, like the TDP did, Malik said, the "Sena won't part ways with the BJP-led government." "They (Sena) are just bargaining. They don't have the courage to go solo," the NCP leader said. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) today ended its four-year-old alliance with the BJP and walked out of the NDA, eight days after two of its Union ministers resigned over the Centre's refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh.

Rahul meeting Pawar shows Congress serious about forming bigger alliance: NCP

Opposition leaders came together in Mumbai for a march on Friday which began from B R Ambedkar&#39;s statue near the state secretariat in the afternoon.

Leaders like Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, D Raja, Hardik Patel, Omar Abdullah, Dinesh Trivedi and Sushilkumar Shinde took part in the &#39;Save Constitution&#39; march.

&quot;Since 1947, we have been deriving our identity from the Indian Constitution. We all have come here to send across a message that to save the country, the constitution should be protected,&quot; former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said after the march.

Earlier, the leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in south Mumbai.

Sharad Pawar (NCP), Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat&#39;s Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress) and Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) attended the meeting.

The &#39;Save Constitution&#39; march is being seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Independent MP from Maharashtra Raju Shetti, the convener of the &#39;Save Constitution&#39; march, who was also present at the meeting, said participants gathered near the Ambedkar statue and began walking towards Shivaji Maharaj statue at the Gateway of India.

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam also joined the march.

The Maharashtra unit of the BJP has, meanwhile, organised &#39;Tiranga Yatra&#39; in the city on Friday to counter the opposition event.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said that several ministers, MPs and MLAs will participate in the Yatra.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address the gathering when it converges at Kamgar Maidan, he said.

The procession will start from Chaityabhumi, the memorial of B R Ambedkar in Dadar, before reaching Kamgar Maidan in central Mumbai.

Earlier, the leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in south Mumbai.

Opposition leaders came together in Mumbai for a march on Friday which began from B R Ambedkar's statue near the state secretariat in the afternoon. Leaders like Sharad Pawar, Sharad Yadav, D Raja, Hardik Patel, Omar Abdullah, Dinesh Trivedi and Sushilkumar Shinde took part in the 'Save Constitution' march. "Since 1947, we have been deriving our identity from the Indian Constitution. We all have come here to send across a message that to save the country, the constitution should be protected," former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said after the march. Earlier, the leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in south Mumbai. Sharad Pawar (NCP), Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress) and Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) attended the meeting. The 'Save Constitution' march is being seen as an attempt to consolidate anti-BJP parties ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Independent MP from Maharashtra Raju Shetti, the convener of the 'Save Constitution' march, who was also present at the meeting, said participants gathered near the Ambedkar statue and began walking towards Shivaji Maharaj statue at the Gateway of India. Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam also joined the march. The Maharashtra unit of the BJP has, meanwhile, organised 'Tiranga Yatra' in the city on Friday to counter the opposition event. Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said that several ministers, MPs and MLAs will participate in the Yatra. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address the gathering when it converges at Kamgar Maidan, he said. The procession will start from Chaityabhumi, the memorial of B R Ambedkar in Dadar, before reaching Kamgar Maidan in central Mumbai.

Opposition leaders march together in Mumbai, setting tone for 2019 polls

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday attacked Maharashtra&#39;s ruling government over the agrarian crisis in the state, urging farmers not to pay electricity and other dues until the government deposits loan waiver money into their bank accounts.&nbsp;

After a state-wide agitation by farmers, the Maharashtra government had announced an agriculture loan waiver of Rs 34,022 crore on June 24.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on July 9, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that around 36 lakh farmers in the state will have their entire debts waived.&nbsp;

Pawar, who was speaking at a rally organised together by the Congress and NCP on his 77th birthday, warned chief minister&nbsp;Fadnavis to restrict himself from blackmailing the opposition leaders.

&quot;The Maharashtra chief minister uses the language of blackmailing the opposition. We respect the mandate of the people who chose you to govern,&quot; asserted Pawar.

The former Union agricultural minister further cautioned the CM saying the people who gave him the mandate can also oust him from power if he continued to use the blackmailing language.&nbsp;

Pawar also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for &#39;deliberately&#39; misconstruing a meeting at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on December 6 and presenting it as a conspiracy by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls.

The Maharashtra government had announced an agriculture loan waiver of Rs 34,022 crore on June 24

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday attacked Maharashtra's ruling government over the agrarian crisis in the state, urging farmers not to pay electricity and other dues until the government deposits loan waiver money into their bank accounts. After a state-wide agitation by farmers, the Maharashtra government had announced an agriculture loan waiver of Rs 34,022 crore on June 24. Meanwhile, on July 9, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that around 36 lakh farmers in the state will have their entire debts waived. Pawar, who was speaking at a rally organised together by the Congress and NCP on his 77th birthday, warned chief minister Fadnavis to restrict himself from blackmailing the opposition leaders. "The Maharashtra chief minister uses the language of blackmailing the opposition. We respect the mandate of the people who chose you to govern," asserted Pawar. The former Union agricultural minister further cautioned the CM saying the people who gave him the mandate can also oust him from power if he continued to use the blackmailing language. Pawar also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for 'deliberately' misconstruing a meeting at the residence of suspended Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on December 6 and presenting it as a conspiracy by Pakistan to interfere in the Gujarat polls.

Don't pay electricity, other dues till government gives loan waiver money: Sharad Pawar to farmers

sharad-pawar

Sharad Pawar, News on Sharad Pawar, stories on Sharad Pawar, articles on Sharad Pawar, Sharad Pawar stories at Wion, Sharad Pawar news, Sharad Pawar latest news

sharad pawar