NEW DELHI: The talk about NCP chief Sharad Pawar becoming the UPA chairperson may have been denied but there is a strong feeling in the opposition camp that the Maratha strongman should be given a role to bring the opposition together.
Well-placed sources said that some sections of Congress as well as opposition parties believe that Pawar is the man who can throw the net wide and bring about greater opposition unity in the present times.
An informal discussion among opposition parties is learnt to be going on about how the anti-BJP camp can become more coherent and structured entity. The larger view is that it should be able to have the reach to the parties that are opposed to BJP but are not very friendly with Congress. This has been a major hurdle in erecting the sort of opposition alliance which can pose a serious challenge to the ruling BJP.
A Congress functionary said there was little chance of Pawar becoming the UPA chairperson, arguing that the position is bound to remain with the largest party in the anti-BJP axis. Also, Congress would not want to leave the position because it is the only reliable anti-communal force in any given situation. However, there can be another position to accommodate Pawar where he can appeal to regional parties. “There can be a position like convenor of UPA. Such a position was occupied by George Fernandes in NDA. It can give Pawar the perch to talk to parties like TMC, TRS, even Akali Dal, “ said a Congress functionary.
The view, a member claimed, among the opposition parties is that the formation of government in Maharashtra by bringing about an alliance between NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena has changed the equation and given an alternative view to strengthening the opposition unity. Pawar’s role in forging the Maharashtra alliance has been crucial.
Pawar, besides Rahul Gandhi, CPM chief Sitaram Yechury, CPI’s D Raja and DMK MP TKS Elangovan, met the President this week to demand that government repeal the controversial farm laws.