NCP mellows down stand on issue of prime ministership

Nationalist Congress Party today mellowed down its stand on the issue of prime ministership, saying that the top post would go to Congress as it is the biggest party in the UPA.  

"Congress is the biggest party (in the UPA). Naturally the Prime Ministership will go to it," NCP leader Praful Patel told reporters.  

So far the NCP had been projecting its chief Sharad Pawar as PM candidate, claiming that Manmohan Singh was the prime ministerial candidate of only Congress, not the UPA.  

Replying to a question, he said since no party or group can form the next government on its own, they are in search of new allies."I am in touch with SP and Congress for formation of a secular government," he said.  

Patel had yesterday said that in this era of coalition politics, where NCP has fought elections along with Congress, "the main effort would be to see that a secular UPA govt is formed where Pawar could play an important role".