PUNE, 1 June 2005 — Congress President Sonia Gandhi, in an polite snub to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President and federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, turned down Pawar’s request to attend the NCP’s national convention to be held on June 9 in Surat, Gujarat.
Sonia’s decision, which could upset Pawar was communicated to NCP General Secretary Tarik Anwar by Ahmed Patel. Sources said that though the Congress president has expressed her inability to attend the convention, she would send a message on that occasion.
