Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Sonia Gandhi share a platform at Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar’s birthday bash?
The plans drawn up to celebrate Pawar’s 75th birthday next month include a mega show in Delhi on December 10 and another big function in his constituency Baramati two days later. There is also talk of a third programme in Mumbai but it is yet to be finalised. Given Pawar’s seniority in politics, his links across party lines and his connections with the corporate world, the celebrations are expected to be attended by all the bigwigs from these diverse fields. The prime minister and the Congress president have been invited.
While Modi is learnt to have given his consent for the programme, a response from Sonia Gandhi is still awaited. Since the Congress and the NCP have been coalition partners both in Maharashtra and at the Centre, it may be churlish for Sonia Gandhi to refuse, especially when it is a social occasion like a birthday.
But given the bitter relations between Modi and Sonia Gandhi, it is equally hard to imagine that the Congress president will want to be seen on the same dais as the prime minister. One way out could be that Sonia Gandhi will opt to join the birthday celebrations in Delhi while Modi will attend the programme in Baramati.
Eye on Rashtrapati Bhavan
While this is a subject of animated discussion in political circles, there is also considerable speculation about the real reasons behind the grand celebrations being planned for Pawar. One obvious purpose is that Pawar wants to show that he is still politically relevant even though his party is not in power and he is no longer a central minister. There are others who maintain that Pawar is pitching himself as the next presidential candidate. Having enjoyed the trappings of power for so many decades, Pawar, it is said, is not enjoying his stint in the opposition. Since he is too old to continue in electoral politics, the Rashtrapati Bhavan seems to be the most obvious next step.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s term ends in 2017 but speculation about his successor will pick up steam a year earlier.
Pawar apparently fancies his chances as the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan, for which he might have all the right credentials. He is known to be a mature and seasoned politician, was reputed to be an able and competent administrator and, most importantly, has friends across the political spectrum. If the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were to propose his name, there are few political parties which will not give their consent.
The ever-pragmatic Pawar has, over the years, perfected the art of keeping his political rivals on the right side. It was, therefore, not surprising that the NCP chief was quick to offer a hand of friendship to Modi shortly after their parties faced off against each other in a bitter electoral battle. Modi had personally launched a blistering attack against the NCP during the Maharashtra assembly polls, even describing the NCP as a “Naturally Corrupt Party”.
Bonhomie between rivals
However, this did not stop Pawar from offering his party’s support to the BJP when it was unable to form the government in Maharashtra on its own. The BJP eventually opted for its old ally, the Shiv Sena, but Pawar did not close his lines of communication with Modi. The excellent rapport he enjoys with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley because of their shared interest in cricket administration also helped Pawar to build bridges with Modi.
In fact, Modi travelled to Baramati in February for an official programme where he shared a platform with Pawar. The prime minister heaped praise on the former agriculture minister, saying that he spoke to Pawar at twice a month as they both have an interest in farmers’ issues. This bonhomie between the two bitter political rivals was seen as a clear suggestion that they were willing to bury their differences and reset their relations.
This talk was revived recently when Jaitley stayed overnight at Pawar’s Govind Baug residence in Baramati. Like Modi, the finance minister was all praise for Pawar, stating that the “country needed at least a hundred Baramatis”.
Jaitley’s overnight halt came in the backdrop of a slugfest between the BJP and its alliance partner, the Shiv Sena. As charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast, it had appeared, at one stage, that the two partners may go their separate ways. In that scenario, the BJP would need the NCP support to prop up its Maharashtra government. And the NCP may be willing to oblige. Not only is Pawar interested in acquiring political clout once again, he also wants to keep the BJP on his right side in view of the pending corruption case against his nephew Ajit Pawar. The presidential election is, of course, the next step.
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The plans drawn up to celebrate Pawar’s 75th birthday next month include a mega show in Delhi on December 10 and another big function in his constituency Baramati two days later. There is also talk of a third programme in Mumbai but it is yet to be finalised. Given Pawar’s seniority in politics, his links across party lines and his connections with the corporate world, the celebrations are expected to be attended by all the bigwigs from these diverse fields. The prime minister and the Congress president have been invited.
While Modi is learnt to have given his consent for the programme, a response from Sonia Gandhi is still awaited. Since the Congress and the NCP have been coalition partners both in Maharashtra and at the Centre, it may be churlish for Sonia Gandhi to refuse, especially when it is a social occasion like a birthday.
But given the bitter relations between Modi and Sonia Gandhi, it is equally hard to imagine that the Congress president will want to be seen on the same dais as the prime minister. One way out could be that Sonia Gandhi will opt to join the birthday celebrations in Delhi while Modi will attend the programme in Baramati.
Eye on Rashtrapati Bhavan
While this is a subject of animated discussion in political circles, there is also considerable speculation about the real reasons behind the grand celebrations being planned for Pawar. One obvious purpose is that Pawar wants to show that he is still politically relevant even though his party is not in power and he is no longer a central minister. There are others who maintain that Pawar is pitching himself as the next presidential candidate. Having enjoyed the trappings of power for so many decades, Pawar, it is said, is not enjoying his stint in the opposition. Since he is too old to continue in electoral politics, the Rashtrapati Bhavan seems to be the most obvious next step.
President Pranab Mukherjee’s term ends in 2017 but speculation about his successor will pick up steam a year earlier.
Pawar apparently fancies his chances as the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan, for which he might have all the right credentials. He is known to be a mature and seasoned politician, was reputed to be an able and competent administrator and, most importantly, has friends across the political spectrum. If the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party were to propose his name, there are few political parties which will not give their consent.
The ever-pragmatic Pawar has, over the years, perfected the art of keeping his political rivals on the right side. It was, therefore, not surprising that the NCP chief was quick to offer a hand of friendship to Modi shortly after their parties faced off against each other in a bitter electoral battle. Modi had personally launched a blistering attack against the NCP during the Maharashtra assembly polls, even describing the NCP as a “Naturally Corrupt Party”.
Bonhomie between rivals
However, this did not stop Pawar from offering his party’s support to the BJP when it was unable to form the government in Maharashtra on its own. The BJP eventually opted for its old ally, the Shiv Sena, but Pawar did not close his lines of communication with Modi. The excellent rapport he enjoys with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley because of their shared interest in cricket administration also helped Pawar to build bridges with Modi.
In fact, Modi travelled to Baramati in February for an official programme where he shared a platform with Pawar. The prime minister heaped praise on the former agriculture minister, saying that he spoke to Pawar at twice a month as they both have an interest in farmers’ issues. This bonhomie between the two bitter political rivals was seen as a clear suggestion that they were willing to bury their differences and reset their relations.
This talk was revived recently when Jaitley stayed overnight at Pawar’s Govind Baug residence in Baramati. Like Modi, the finance minister was all praise for Pawar, stating that the “country needed at least a hundred Baramatis”.
Jaitley’s overnight halt came in the backdrop of a slugfest between the BJP and its alliance partner, the Shiv Sena. As charges and counter-charges flew thick and fast, it had appeared, at one stage, that the two partners may go their separate ways. In that scenario, the BJP would need the NCP support to prop up its Maharashtra government. And the NCP may be willing to oblige. Not only is Pawar interested in acquiring political clout once again, he also wants to keep the BJP on his right side in view of the pending corruption case against his nephew Ajit Pawar. The presidential election is, of course, the next step.