‘THE CONGRESS IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR’
The NCP is possibly facing its worst-ever low. But the Maratha Strongman, SHARAD PAWAR, is affecting unconcern, and tells Kiran D. Tare that he sees the crisis as an opportunity to rejuvenate the party. Excerpts:
QHow do you rate Devendra Fadnavis’s performance as CM? He is a good person. But a person who is running a state should also be a good administrator and should take care of every part of the state. But Fadnavis has never given serious thought to overall development. When he was in opposition, he fought for the formation of a separate state of Vidarbha. Now, he says the people of Vidarbha will decide. Being the CM, he should stand for a united Maharashtra.
Q. Are these hard times for the NCP? Many of your leaders have joined the BJP and the Shiv Sena...
The people in power at the Centre and in the state have a vindictive approach to the opposition. They started [motivated] enquiries and taking [legal] action against others. Those who were unable to face the situation chose to join the BJP or the Shiv Sena.
Q. How do you feel about their choices?
This is the second time it has happened to me. In 1980,
I had 62 MLAs. Of them, 52 deserted the party. But I fought back and brought in new, younger leadership. In the next election, I got 73 MLAs. This time as well, I am getting a tremendous response from people, particularly the youth. This is a good opportunity for me to rebuild my party with the younger generation.
Q. At the age of 80, you seem to be carrying the entire burden of your party. Where are the younger leaders?
My younger colleagues are concentrating on their respective districts. I have taken responsibility for the state, and Jayant Patil, Dhananjay Munde and Ajit Pawar are there along with me. I get more exposure in the media than other leaders get.
Q. What is your opinion of the Congress? Is the party on its death bed? The Congress is the need of the hour—it is an organisation with roots in every Indian state. In political life, setbacks happen. In 1977, the Congress was practically routed and the media said it would not come to power again for 25 years. But in 1980, the Congress got a clear majority. This will happen again.
Q. Will you consider merging the NCP with the Congress at some point?
I began my career believing in the Gandhi-Nehru ideology. I still respect it. [The Congress and NCP] are working together, helping each other. We have not thought of a merger, but working together is benefiting both of us.
Q. How do you view the rise of the BJP and the Shiv Sena in recent years?
It happens. The real BJP was Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani. Someone laid a good foundation. Others are enjoying the fruits. The acceptability of Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also different.
Q. You have been in opposition for 27 of your 50 years in politics. Is this time any different from earlier?
Only one thing—previous governments [understood] that an opposition was also required for a democracy. Today, people who oppose the government’s thinking are called anti-nationals. ■