PUNE, JULY 26: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister A R Antulay today alleged that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar had detailed discussion with BJP and RSS leaders before creating a crisis in the Congress by raising the issue of Sonia Gandhi's `foreign' origin.Addressing a press conference, Antulay said there was tacit understanding between Pawar and BJP about future political arrangements. According to the understanding between the two, Antulay said that Pawar himself would be accommodated in Delhi while his nephew Ajit would be made chief minister of Maharashtra. Antulay said BJP had taken the step mainly to checkmate Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.Answering a question on the possible effect on party's performance because of Pawar factor, Antulay said Pawar's party would get three to five seats while Congress would bag a minimum of 20 seats. He said in the assembly election, Congress would secure a simple majority with the help of friendly parties. He claimed that Congress had always emerged stronger whenever Pawar had left the party.Antulay further ridiculed Pawar saying that he was not ready to accept Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party as a regional party. He said Pawar's colleagues like Tarik Anwar would not be able to win the election. He said Pawar was in a confused state of mind and one would be able to read further confusion on his face when the election would approach fast.Antulay said he had been requested to contest the Lok Sabha election from Jalna, Aurangabad and Hingoli apart from his home constituency of Raigad. He said he would follow the decision of party high command and was ready to contest from any constituency.
