Alternate government will be formed: Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has claimed that the Opposition parties will give the country an alternate government after May 23, when the Lok Sabha election results are announced. It may happen on May 23 or a month later, he said.

Mr Pawar also said that the current regime was trying to exploit the administration, including the defence forces, for political mileage.

He also alleged that the government’s attitude towards Naxal-affected areas was the cause of the Naxal attacks in Gadchiroli.

Mr Pawar also held responsible the government for the Naxal attack, as the law and order was the responsibility of the government, while replying to a query pertaining to the Naxal attacks.

Asked about PM Modi’s comment about the Mahagathabandhan that it would have been formed under Mr Pawar’s leadership but its plight was such that Rahul Gandhi and Mr Pawar did not share a dais in the election, Mr Pawar said there was no point in sharing the dais with Mr Gandhi, and that the Congress and NCP had contested the election together in the state.

“At the national level, it was decided that the Mahagathabandhan wo-uld not be formed. After the polls, we will sit together and focus on how we can provide a viable government to the country,” he added.

Mr Pawar pointed out that in 2004, the entire Opposition had come together after the election results and then formed the UPA government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh.

To another query, Mr Pawar replied that while he could not comment whether such a day would come on May 23 or 15 days later, and whether or not the President of India would invite them to form the government but it was not possible for the BJP to prove its majority within one month of receiving such invitation whereas it was possible for the Opposition. He said that the Naxal activities were not a recent issue, but it had been growing in the past few years and the government had to take steps towards it.

Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses etc all. Happy reading.