Congress plays down Pawar remarks on coalition dharma

The Congress sought to play down NCP chief Sharad Pawars remarks about coalition dharma in the backdrop of the NCP joining hands with the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the elections for zilla parishad presidents in Maharashtra

The Congress on Sunday sought to play down NCP chief Sharad Pawars remarks about coalition dharma in the backdrop of the NCP joining hands with the Shiv Sena and the BJP in the elections for zilla parishad presidents in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra itself is the best example of successful Congress-led coalition politics. It is the only state with a successful coalition arrangement surmounting triple anti-incumbency at both central and state levels. This is the best negation of any allegation regarding deficiency by us, party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Accusing the Maharashtra Congress of not following coalition dharma in the zilla parishad elections,Pawar on Saturday said criticism from it over the tie-up wont be tolerated.

He had earlier publicly questioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs comments about allies making decision-making difficult.

Pawar response came following state Congress leaders allegations that the coalition partner had betrayed the party. The party NCP should change their symbol from clock to a dagger, Vishwaji Kadam,state president of the Youth Congress,said on Saturday.

Pawar,speaking to elected corporators at a party function in Pune on Saturday,said,We dont want to take this dispute further. But if they Congress keep on criticising us,we wont tolerate it. It is not acceptable that only we should follow the discipline of coalition and they break it.

He said though terms of engagement were clarified much before the zilla parishad polls,the Congress didnt comply with them.

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Singhvis remarks assume significant as it came close on the heels of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Saturday meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue.

The CM also had a meeting with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and a number of Central leaders.

With ENS Pune