Sharad Pawar Snubs Congress Leader Prithviraj Chavan, Says He Should Check His Stature In Party

Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar on Tuesday lambasted Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan for his earlier remarks against NCP.

Chavan had targeted NCP for fielding its candidates in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

Chavan had earlier expressed disagreement with Pawar's claim that the Congress leadership was stubborn during the talks for the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019.

According to the report in NDTV, Pawar said: "He (Prithviraj Chavan)should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C, or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private." 

He also said the NCP wanted to make an entry into Karnataka with the aim of expanding the party base, it said.

"We did not hold any discussions with the Congress or other allies in Karnataka, as we wanted to start from scratch," Pawar was quoted in the report as having said.

"The reason why we did not hold any discussions with the Congress was that the NCP wanted to start from scratch in the state. When there is an alliance with another party, it is imperative to provide strength to that party. But, as we were starting from scratch, it was not possible to give the assurance that we would be able to provide strength if we go with them," he said, as per the report.

Pawar said his party is contesting limited seats in Karnataka, the report said.

He also said it to ensure that it will not adversely affect the Congress's prospects, it added.

"I am surprised that the country's prime minister puts forth this kind of a stand before the people. You (the government) should tell me what you have done in the last five years as the power was in your hands. Everywhere people talk about 40 per cent commission," he was quoted as having said.