While Pawar’s allies, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) should field a prime ministerial candidate ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Congress leader Sharad Pawar said he and his party members are not interested in the post. “Our main aim is to give voters a choice and remove Mahayuti from power,” Pawar said.
“Speaking on behalf of my party, we have no intention of recommending anyone for the chief minister’s post and we are not interested in it. There is no question of me taking up the post,” Pawar said, adding that there was no need to raise the issue of recommending anyone for the chief minister’s post.
Pawar said leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Indian National Congress and SP had met once to discuss seat allocation but changed the agenda of the meeting following the incident in which two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a cleaner at a school in Badlapur.
“I personally feel that the Left parties should also join the MVA in the state assembly elections. Party leaders will meet on August 27 to discuss seat allocation. I believe the seat allocation talks will be concluded soon so that candidates and parties can devote more time to campaigning,” Pawar said.
The NCP(SP) leader said he was meeting rival party leaders but no decision had been taken about joining the party, adding that he would be holding a rally in Kolhapur’s Kagar where BJP leader Samarjeet Singh Ghatge is likely to join the NCP(SP) and take on NCP minister Hasan Mushrif.
Referring to the Maharashtra rally called by the Opposition on August 24 over the Badlapur sexual abuse case, Pawar said it was called to convey the sentiments of the people. “The rally will go on till 2 pm and will be peaceful. Organisations and people should participate in it to convey a message to the state government,” Pawar said.
He also referred to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s statement that the protests over the Badlapur attack were politically motivated, which he said was “unfortunate.” “The incident at the school was shocking and the reaction will be felt across the state,” he added.
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