Crisis managers in the Congress tried to keep ally NCP in good humour on Friday, a day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and NCP leader and heavy industries minister Praful Patel sent their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on issues related to the functioning of the government and the coalition.
While Mr Pawar assured Dr Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi that his party would continue to remain in the UPA and support the government, he met them separately in the last 24 hours and explained why the NCP has decided to pull out of the government.
In a statement, the Prime Minister said, “Mr Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague of mine whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government.” The Congress core group discussed the issues raised by Mr Pawar at its meeting here Friday evening. Sources said “the matter has been settled. It has more to do with coordination between allies than with any demand for the number two position in the Cabinet.”
Though the NCP will decide its course of action on Monday, Congress managers are working on a formula to satisfy the NCP. During his meetings with the PM and Mrs Gandhi, Mr Pawar made it clear that his party was not bargaining for anything and had not taken this step as a pressure tactic. He told them that key policy issues should be discussed with the UPA allies before bringing matters to the Cabinet.
Mr Pawar drew the PM’s and Mrs Gandhi’s attention to the deteriorating image of the government and the grim situation in key sectors, saying the government has to perform well and deliver before the next Lok Sabha election.
The NCP has been unhappy with the way the allies are kept in the dark on policy issues, and with the populist approach of the Congress. “This is a coalition, and not a one-party government,” a UPA leader said.
“We are unhappy with some aspects which have been raised by Pawar in personal meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi,” Mr Praful Patel said.
At AICC headquarters, party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said the Congress views Mr Pawar as a “senior and respectable” leader who is “looked upon with reverence” in the UPA.
On whether the NCP chief was mulling pulling out of the government, Mr Dwivedi said, “There is no such serious problem. A solution will be found.” Another Congress general secretary, Mr Digvijay Singh, also sought to mollify Mr Pawar.