By Express News Service
MUMBAI: In a major shift from his earlier stand, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has junked the possibility of Mahagathbandhan or the anti-BJP grand alliance before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The idea is "not practical" he said in an interview to CNN News 18 adding that, "a post poll alliance is more likely."
Pawar had been part of the efforts to form an anti-BJP mahagathbandhan for past some time. He was also present at swearing-in ceremony of the Kumarswami government recently that is believed to be a demonstration of opposition unity. However, in a complete U-turn, Pawar has now said that the idea won't be practical owing to regional compulsions of the political parties.
"There is a lot of media speculation, a lot of write-ups about some alternative front like a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance). But I don't see anything like that. I don't see that possibility. Some of our friends want that, but it's not practical," Pawar has said.
"The pre poll alliances can be devised best on the state-wise basis. In states like Tamil Nadu, the number one party will be the DMK and other non-BJP parties will have to accept it. In Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Congress will be the number one party. In Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party and K Chandrashekhar Rao's party in Telangana would be important factors, while Patnaik in Odisha and Mamata Banerjee in Bengal would be important. They will consolidate their position in respective states not as a Gathbandhan," he added.
"After the election, there is every possibility that all these leaders will come together because the total thrust of the election was against the BJP. All these forces will come together and find some alternative so as not to hand the country's reins to the BJP. That I am confident of," he said.
Pawar, who had recently praised Congress president Rahul Gandhi after his performance at the Gujarat assembly elections, also declined comments on possibility and prospects of him becoming the prime minister. "I can't say that. Can't say anything about any individual. Ultimately, their acceptability is important," Pawar said.
