Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s meeting with Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar at the latter’s official residence late Thursday night triggered feverish speculation in the political circles throughout Friday.
Given Azad is the leader of the Congress change-seekers’ group and since Pawar is seen as an important mover in the larger opposition camp added to the buzz after the duo’s meeting at Pawar’s Janpath residence, which is a stone’s throw away from Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s official residence.
“I keep meeting Sharad Pawar ji. In fact, I often meet many of my political colleagues,” Azad told ET. “Pawar ji and I have worked together for over 40 years, including in the Congress Working Committees and in the cabinets of PV Narasimha Rao government and the two UPA governments.
Besides, the Congress and the NCP are first cousins anyway. It is always nice to meet Pawar ji. It was a courtesy meeting.”
Nonetheless, there are indications that the current political situation, especially the state of affairs of the larger anti-BJP opposition politics, might have figured in their talks.
The meeting assumes significance given its timing as well as the larger political backdrop. After the Congress’ latest electoral rout that further shook the leadership of the Gandhis, the party’s change-seekers had called for a collective and inclusive Congress leadership, demanded the Congress take initiative for anti-BJP opposition parties’ coordination and stressed they will announce their next decision soon.
Just two days ago, the NCP’s youth wing in Delhi called for Pawar’s elevation as the UPA chief, a call that the NCP later distanced itself from. In between, All India Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee called for a larger opposition meeting, something that the All India Congress Committee establishment is uneasy with but many others in the party, just like many Congress allies and regional outfits, are quite receptive to.
Given Azad represented Maharashtra twice in the Lok Sabha in the past, Maharashtra’s political circles are also keeping a close eye on the Pawar-Azad meeting as the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi is in a position to win some of the Rajya Sabha seats for which elections will be held soon.
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