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Journalism of Courage
NEW DELHI, OCT 18: NCP president Sharad Pawar today dismissed the possibility of a split in the party in view of senior leader P A Sangma8217;s reservation over forging a coalition with the Congress in Maharashtra and expressed confidence that the Vilasrao Deshmukh Ministry would last long.
8220;There is absolutely no such possibility,8221; Pawar told reporters here, replying to a volley of questions on the Sangma issue. He said the NCP working committee would soon meet to sort out the matter.
Stating that the working committee had earlier authorised him to take a decision on Maharashtra, he said the NCP8217;s constitution gave emphasis on decentralisation in decision making.
8220;We ask the local unit to take a decision, taking into consideration the situation there,8221; he said, adding that in Meghalaya, Sangma was authorised to take a decision.
In Meghalaya8217;s B B Lyngdoh Ministry, the NCP and BJP are sharing power after the Chief Minister dropped Congress representatives. quot;Whatever we followed there is not our national line,quot; he said, adding that in the Lok Sabha, the NCP would sit separately as the party proclaims the policy of equidistance between the Congress and BJP.
Pawar said the Cong-NCP coalition was an 8220;integrated8221; one and therefore there was no danger to the Government. He said what was being witnessed in the State now was a 8220;Kerala pattern8221; wherein the alliance partners would have a common programme and a coordination committee.
