No dispute over convenor’s post, no need to project any face: Pawar

New Delhi: After days of tussle among alliance partners, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) on Saturday appointed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the bloc’s chairperson.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of top alliance leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Nitish Kumar and MK Stalin.
The virtual meeting was held to review the seat-sharing arrangment, participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and other matters related to the alliance.
During the meeting, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was given the INDIA bloc convener’s job.
However, news agency ANI reported that he has rejected the convener’s post. He reportedly told the alliance partners that someone from the Congress should take the post.
An official announcement of the decision is likely to be made later today.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar attended the meeting of INDIA bloc leaders via video conferencing in Mumbai.
The meeting was also attended by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin and party leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi. They joined virtual meeting from Chennai.
However, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav skipped the meeting.
As many as 29 Opposition parties have stitched an alliance to take on the BJP-led ruling NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Opposition parties have resolved to fight the general elections together “as much as possible” to defeat the BJP.
Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Saturday asserted that there was no dispute among the INDIA bloc members over appointing its convenor, but said there was no need to project any face for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as the leader can be chosen once the results are declared.
He said that during a virtual meeting of INDIA bloc leaders held on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s name was suggested for the post of convenor, but the latter was of the view that a team of party chiefs should be formed and that there is no need to appoint a convenor.
During the virtual meeting, the INDIA bloc leaders discussed various aspects of the alliance and the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections due in April-May.
Talking to reporters at Junnar in Pune district after attending the meeting, Pawar said, “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.” “There is no need to project one face to seek votes. We will select the leader after the elections and we are confident of providing an alternative. In 1977, Morarji Desai was not projected as the prime ministerial face by the opposition,” the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president said, adding that it was a positive sign that several parties were coming together.
Pawar said he could not attend the entire virtual meeting as he had some other pre-scheduled engagements.
“Candidates (for the Lok Sabha elections) were not discussed…We will discuss seat-sharing. For the Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, seat-sharing was discussed and we will announce once it is finalised,” he said.
The INDIA bloc meeting discussed programmes, policies to be taken up. It was decided that a committee would be formed that will decide on holding joint rallies of the allies all over the country, he said.
On the Ram temple issue, 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.”
PTI

  BJP, Congress

KR Desk