The Congress on Friday appeared relieved as Sharad Pawar did not attend the Third Front rally and pointed out that the NCP chief had said his party was part of the UPA.
“There is no question of being happy or unhappy but it is a fact that Pawar has not gone to Bhubaneswar for the rally," Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal said here.
Pawar failed to join a BJD-Left-NCP rally in Bhubaneswar owing to an "technical" problem of the aircraft which was to take him to Orissa, but told the public meeting over phone from Nashik in Maharashtra that he wanted to attend it.
"Giving his speech on mobile does not mean that he is with Third Front," Sibal said adding that the Congress "trusts him fully" and Pawar would not take any step to jeopardise the existing alliance with Congress.
Congress leader P Chidambaram had yesterday said it would be better if Pawar did not share dais with leaders of Left parties which are opponents of Congress.
Asked why Chidambaram had appealed to Pawar to not to attend the rally, Sibal merely said, "We had not issued any appeal."
Sibal sidestepped several questions from reporters on Pawar and said the NCP chief had made it clear that he is not in the race for the prime minister's post.
