Mumbai: NCP Chief Sharad Pawar clarified on Monday that there is no confusion among the opposition over the name for the Prime Ministerial (PM) candidate. It is not an issue or hurdle for all opposition parties to come together, he added. 

Discussions over seat-sharing with the Congress for forthcoming elections have been started. Pawar had organised a meeting of party leaders on Monday to inform them about the wider alliance in the state. At the same time, the party discussed current issues in the state.

Pawar started a movement of alliance of all opposition parties against BJP and Narendra Modi. Seat-sharing talks between the Congress and NCP had already started in June. However, state leaders had not decided on the seats that either party wants to contest. After the meeting, Pawar said, “Seat sharing is not an issue for alliance, the state leaders will decide in their concerned state about the alliance with other opposition and small parties. Seat sharing will be decide at the state level.”
“I had a discussion with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over various issues like alliance, seat sharing and prime ministerial candidate. He agreed that there will no particular face for the prime minister’s post,” Pawar said. 
“The party getting the maximum number of seats after 2019 polls will claim the post,” he clarified.
He further reminded that the United Progressive Alliance, formed after the 2004 general election, had dislodged the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, formed in 1998.

“The voters are much clever than us and they will decide who will rule the country,” he said.

When asked about the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) would be a part of the opposition’s alliance, Pawar said the party had not communicated over the issue with his party and without any proposal, it is not right to give an opinion. 

While talking about Sanatan Sanstha and other right wing organisations, he said any organisation following a wrong path should be punished.

Raj Thackeray’s appeal to Pawar

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray met Pawar and requested him to bring all parties together on the issue of EVMs. In a letter handed over to Pawar, Thackeray requested that ballot papers should be used in the elections and Pawar has to take lead for the purpose.