National Congress Party-SCP chief Sharad Pawar called for an immediate decision over seat-sharing discussion within the Maha Vikas Aghad for the Maharashatra assembly elections, which are expected to take place later this year. However, he said that he had not been participating in the seat-sharing discussion that is taking place within the alliance for assembly polls.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Pawar said that it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to comment on the matter of seat-sharing as he was not taking part in the discussion and nowhere near the candidate selection for the Maharashtra assembly polls.
“I am not participating in the seat-sharing discussions, so it will not be right for me to say anything on that subject. Jayant Patil is present on our behalf in those meetings, he will speak on this subject. From the Congress side, Nana Patole and some of his colleagues and Sanjay Raut and some of his other colleagues are involved in the discussion,” he said.
“They have had three or four meetings so far. It has also been heard that they have reached an understanding on some topics and there are some topics on which they will still have to sit together once or twice. They are going to sit together on the 7th, 8th and 9th. I request everyone on behalf of my party to sit together and discuss. The decision should reach us as quickly as possible. People want change in Maharashtra and this situation is favourable for us and we should respect this feeling of the people’s mind,” Pawar added.
Pawar also clarified that there was no conflict within the MVA during the Lok Sabha election, following a fray between the Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT over who’s candidate will contest from the Sangli constituency.
“There was no conflict or schism within the Maha Vikas Aghadi during the Lok Sabha elections. It happened only at one place, Sangli. It would be better if the people of Sangli spoke about it. Apart from this, no such incident happened in any district or taluka…I don’t know exactly what happened in Sangli during the Lok Sabha elections, but the discussions going on for the elections right now are taking place in which all three parties are sitting together and discussing,” he said.
Speaking on Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s rumour of not contesting elections from Baramati, Pawar said, “If he feels that he made a mistake by fighting against the family in the Lok Sabha elections, then ask him if he will repeat it in the Assembly.”
