Pawar returns to a hero’s welcome

MUMBAI, May 30: Touching Mumbai for the first time since his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was formally recognised by the Election Com...

MUMBAI, May 30: Touching Mumbai for the first time since his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was formally recognised by the Election Commission, Sharad Pawar who raised a rebellion in the Congress last fortnight received a stupendous welcome this morning. Pawar arrived from New Delhi to oversee preparations for the June 10 national convention of the NCP in the city.

The show of strength began at the airport itself, where a huge horde of supporters thronged every available inch of space to give their hero a red-carpet welcome. The crowd burgeoned to an extent where security personnel and other passengers were harassed, but Pawar’s people couldn’t be bothered. “We want to show him he is still the big boss here,” said a woman supporter, who tried to hitch a ride in Pawar’s convoy.

As the convoy wended its way through the Western Express Highway from the airport to south Mumbai, supporters lined up significant portions of the route, especially at Bandra, Kherwadi junction and Mahim. To honour thecollective sentiment, perhaps, Pawar decided to play the archetypal leader — he instructed that the sunroof of his Toyota be opened, climbed on the seat and waved to the crowd. His aides remarked that an open jeep would have been a better idea, but the makeshift arrangement would have to do for the day.

Story continues below this ad

On way to A-10, his protege Chhagan Bhujbal’s official bungalow at Madame Cama Road in south Mumbai, Pawar was stopped at various places. The Kherwadi junction saw union leaders from INTUC and its affiliate, Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh, cheer Pawar along with several groups of supporters. Further down at Mahim, the convoy was stopped again by a large group of women who swore their support to him, wished him luck in his new endeavour and assured him of their continued backing in whatever political job he undertakes.

Confident of similar popular support for the June 10 convention national executive at Shanmukhananda Hall followed by a public meeting at Shivaji Park Pawar held forth on a range of issuesfrom the recent turn of events in Kargil to the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra. He dismissed Defence Minister George Fernandes’ statement that the Pakistani government, army and air force were not involved in the infiltration operations in Kargil. “As former defence minister who visited that area, I can tell you an operation of this magnitude is not possible without direct participation of the Pakistani government and defence,” he said.

But what sparked his genuine interest were questions on the future plans of NCP. On behalf of the new party, he will open formal discussions with an array of left-of-centre parties in Maharashtra after June 10, he said. These parties include some old allies and some old friends — Republican Party of India’s both groups chaired by rivals Ramdas Athawale and Prakash Ambedkar, Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Communist Party of India. “The effort is that the secular vote does not get divided,” he sparked his genuine interest were said.

The NCP has been receivingan overwhelming response from across the country, Pawar claimed and said the June 10 convention will see people from Kashmir to Kerala join the new party. MLAs from Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are also expected to attend the convention.

Story continues below this ad

Then, he threw the bombshell: several Shiv Sena leaders and grassroot-level workers from various districts are in regular touch with him expressing desire to quit the Sena en masse for the NCP, he said. You will see a massive exodus on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls, Pawar smiled. For now, Pawar and the NCP are running high on confidence.