NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday night dismissed as "irrational" the idea of becoming the Prime Minister with such a small party like his.
"I have a small party that has just 14 members in Parliament. Thinking on these lines would be irrational," he said in reply to a question about senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi's remark that his party would back Pawar for the country's top post.
"As a person from Maharashtra, we would back Pawar if he aspires to become the Prime Minister," Joshi said at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for a New Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.
In his remarks, Pawar, who turned 66 on Tuesday, said he was pleased to hear about the offer.
Earlier, Sena chief Bal Thackeray had said he would support Pawar if he aspires to become the Prime Minister.
The foundation stone laying ceremony for the New Maharashtra Sadan was a NCP show as several prominent Congress leaders were conspicuous by their absence at the function where MPS from Sena, BJP and RPI were present in large number.
Minister of State for Home Manikrao Gavit was the lone representative of Congress.
This was the second foundation stone laying ceremony for the building. The earlier function was organised in February 2004 when Sushil Kumar Shinde was the Chief Minister.
{{/usCountry}}This was the second foundation stone laying ceremony for the building. The earlier function was organised in February 2004 when Sushil Kumar Shinde was the Chief Minister.
{{/usCountry}}Interestingly, Pawar was the guest of honour for that function also.