PUNE, 30 October 2007 — Federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said the United Progressive Alliance government faced no threat over the Indo-US nuclear deal even though the left had reservations about it. The UPA government, he said, would complete its five-year term. Speaking to journalists after a NCP youth rally in Aurangabad, Pawar said he was optimistic a solution to the nuclear issue would be found during a meeting with left parties scheduled for Nov. 16. “The UPA government would clear their misconceptions about the deal at the meeting,” Pawar added.
To a question about the possibility of a mid-term poll, Pawar said there is always the possibility of mid-term polls in a coalition government.
Concerning rumors that Revenue Minister Narayan Rane would be replacing Deshmukh as the state chief minister, Pawar said, “Who is eligible for the chief minister’s post is for the Congress party to decide. The NCP has formed an alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra and would continue the alliance to keep secular forces together in Gujarat assembly polls too.”
About Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Pawar said acts of Modi have been exposed by the sting operation carried out by Tehelka. It would not be fair to remain silent to the inhuman acts of the Modi government, he said.
The NCP has always taken an aggressive stand against Modi, Pawar said. Responding to a question about the looming power crisis in Maharashtra, Pawar said power shortages could be overcome by signing nuclear deal with the US.
