Pawar-Modi meet sparks speculation
NCP chief claims he discussed only farm distress
New Delhi: A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar left the political circles abuzz on Wednesday as whether or not the two leaders discussed anything political during their almost an hour long meeting in Parliament. Though officially Mr Pawar met the PM to seek his urgent intervention in addressing farmer distress in Maharashtra, the meeting took place at a time when Congress-NCP are holding talks over government formation in Maharashtra and also whether or not to ally with ideological adversary Shiv Sena.
A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar left the political circles abuzz on Wednesday as whether or not the two leaders discussed anything political during their almost an hour-long meeting in the Parliament.
Though officially Mr Pawar met the Prime Minister to seek his urgent intervention in addressing farmer distress in Maharashtra, the meeting took place at a time when Congress-NCP are holding talks over government formation.
Later in the evening, senior Congress and NCP leaders held a meeting at Mr Pawar’s residence to chalk out the finer points of government formation.
After the meeting, senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the meeting was an effort towards ending the uncertainity in the state and to
provide a stable government and the leaders will meet again for further discussion.
He also said that most issues have been resolved but final touches still remains.
While, NCP’s Nawab Malik said that it is clear that NCP-Congress and Shiv Sena will have to come together to form the government.
Sources disclosed that NCP and Congress leaders will meet again on Thursday and after that a meeting with the Sena leaders could be held.
Mr Pawar’s meeting with the PM Modi came two days after his meeting with the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also said that by Thursday afternoon things will be clear. Insiders claim that the chief minister’s post will be given to Sena, deputy CM to NCP and the Speakers post to the Congress. Most of the contentious issues have been ironed out, he said.