No Conflict Regarding Convenor’s Post in India Bloc, According to Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: NCP president Sharad Pawar stated on Saturday that there was no disagreement among the members of the INDIA bloc on the appointment of the party’s convenor. However, he said that there was no need to put up a front for the impending Lok Sabha elections since the leader could be picked after the results were announced.

He said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was proposed for the position of convenor at a virtual gathering of INDIA bloc leaders on Saturday, but the latter was of the opinion that a group of party heads should be established instead of a convenor.

The leaders of the INDIA bloc convened virtually to talk about a number of topics, including the alliance and the upcoming April–May Lok Sabha elections.

“There was a suggestion made by the bloc members (during the meeting) that Nitish Kumar be appointed as its convenor, but the latter said that a team of party chiefs should be formed and that there is no need to appoint a convenor,” Mr. Pawar told reporters at Junnar in the Pune district after attending the meeting.

“You don’t have to put up a single front to get support. After the elections, we will choose the leader, and we are sure we can provide a substitute. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president said, “In 1977, Morarji Desai was not projected as the prime ministerial face by the opposition,” and that this was a good indication that several parties were uniting.

Mr. Pawar said that he had other booked commitments, thus he was unable to participate in the whole virtual meeting.

“There was no discussion of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections…We will explore seat-sharing. Seat-sharing was negotiated for the Maharashtra Lok Sabha seats, and we will make an announcement as soon as it is finalized,” he said.

The INDIA bloc meeting covered policies and programs that needed to be implemented. He stated that it was resolved to create a committee to deliberate on organizing joint rallies of the allies around the nation.

On the matter of the Ram temple, Mr. Pawar said, “Nobody opposes the Ram temple in Ayodhya, but the political motive in holding the consecration ceremony in the temple whose construction is not yet complete is being questioned.”