Union agriculture minister and NCP’s re-elected president, Mr Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday indicated the possibility of mid-term elections for Lok-Sabha.
During his speech at the one-day national convention of the NCP in Baroda, Mr Pawar asked party leaders and workers to brace themselves for elections. The NCP leader said that considering the current situation at the Centre, political parties might have to face an early election. He asked his partymen to be on their toes and prepare for the possibility of such a situation.
However, later, the NCP chief said there was no threat to the UPA government. “The UPA government is stable and will survive as several other parties are supporting it. But, being a political party, we are ready for mid-term polls,” he said.
About the Gujarat Assembly polls, Mr Pawar said the party would contest elections in alliance with the Congress provided they got more seats than those (eight) contested last time. “If there is a respectable pact over seat allocation, NCP will join hands with the Congress in Gujarat. In Himachal Pradesh, the NCP will join local parties,” he said.
Ajit Pawar was conspicuous by his absence from the NCP convention. However, NCP leaders played down his absence, saying he had informed the party about his inability to attend the convention in advance. “Ajit was ill and he told us last night that he has a bit of fever,” NCP leader Praful Patel said.