Cong relieved as Pawar fails to make it to Third Front rally

Congress appeared relieved as Sharad Pawar did not attend the Third Front rally and pointed out that the NCP chief had said his party is part of the UPA.

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 is part of the UPA.

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“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 in New Delhi.

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 Congress “trusts him fully” and Pawar would not take any step to jeopardise the existing alliance with Congress.

Congress leader P Chidambaram had on Thursday said it would be better if Pawar did not share dais with leaders of Left parties which are opponents of Congress.

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.