The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has planned to convene a meeting tomorrow with senior leaders from the Maharashtra unit to apprise them about the present developments and also to chalk out future course of action. A NCP leaser, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard that pulling out of the Central as well as from the Maharashtra government was certainly an option being discussed at Saturday's meeting. The meeting will take stock of situation over an attempt by the Congress party both at the central and state level to belittle Pawar and also paint NCP in the wrong box, he said.
NCP state party president Madhukar Pichad confirmed Saturday's meeting. "Lack of coordination between Congress and NCP is a major issue of concern. For us the self respect is of paramount importance. Besides, proper respect be given to our president Pawar."
He however, declined to divulge further details with regard to issues being discussed at the Saturday's meeting and the party's future line of action.
According to the party leader, NCP chief was agitated over policy paralysis as well as inordinate delays in decision making process both at the central and stsate level. "Besides, officials in particular are simply not working nor they are clearing files of key issues which is sending wrong signal among voters. At the same time, the central and state government are at the receiving end as their image is tarnished mainly due to the ongoing investigations carried out by the Central Bureau of Investigtion in 2G spectrum or Adarsh case. We as a party will have to pay heavy price during 2014 parliamentary and assembly elections. The time has come to expedite reforms process and revive quick decision making process which may save both Congress and NCP to survive public wrath," he added.
NCP minister said "It is quite ironical that why there was a need for CBI inquiry into the Adarsh case especially when the judicial commission appointed by the state government has observed that the land on which the 33-storey building has come up, belongs to the state government and not of the ministry of defence. Despite this, the Congress and the government wasted time in filing affidavit challenging CBI inquiry. This will not affect Congress party's prospects but being a co-partner NCP will have to pay heavy price. Therefore, an option of pulling out of government and supporting it from outside can be considered," the minister noted.
Furthermore, NCP is also agitated against NCP and its ministers being targetted by Congress and the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in particular be it Lavasa hill station, Adarsh scam, development and irrigation backlog. "It is high time the state chief minister needs to act fast so that long pending files will be cleared and ultimately it will help kickstart project development ahead of 2014 assembly elections," NCP minister said.
On the other hand, Congress party has downplayed differences with Pawar. Congress minister however, admitted that there was al need for the chief minister to make drastic change in his style of functioning. "Congress legislators on several occasions including the meeting of legislature party have said that if the decisions are not expedited they will be defeated and in turn the Congress party will loose badly in the parliamentary and assembly elections slated for 2014," the minister informed.