Just what is playing on Sharad Pawar's mind and what is it that he wants out of the government? That the Congress and NCP share an uneasy relationship, is well known, but what could be his next step?
Dilliwalla, who has his ear to the ground in matters political, was in conversation with
rediff.com's
Abhishek Mande. Here are extracts from the conversation on Rediff ZaraBol
What do you make of this morning's Pawar saga? Are you surprised to see Pawar reacting the way he did?Only yesterday, we heard from Rahul Gandhi that he's ready for the party or the
government. It was first time he used
government. I am not surprised but think that Pawar chose his correct timing!
The buzz was Rahul Gandhi could be even deputy Prime Minister. Then Pawar struck! So long as talk was about Rahul getting a bigger role in Congress, everything was fine. But once he said 'also government', hell broke
My sources say Pawar's man Praful Patel and Sonia Gandhi's man Ahmed Patel are doing the tough negotiations. Talk of some committees for better coordination at UPA level is for public consumption, say NCP sources.
The real issue is portfolios. Pawar wants to be in the key Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Only if he is defence minister, he is in it Pawar is immensely angry with Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan who is telling Rahul Gandhi not to trust NCP.
The midnight confabulations between the two Patels paved the way for Pawar's breakfast with Sonia Gandhi today
Pawar has assured Sonia that he won't leave UPA but his party's 'honour' must be upheld. What is the best way for that? When Congress' core group meets this evening, Pawar's demands will be discussed threadbare
Pawar knows Sonia has little room for ignoring his party's plea. Pawar may have only 9 MPs in Lok Sabha but his clout extends wider
Pawar has some demands in respect of Maharashtra too. One does not what it is now.
Today's is the first of Pawar's salvos. Praful Patel told some of his political friends that more will be fired if Congress doesn't 'behave'.
Much is being made out of the 'No 2 spot'. Who is No 2 right now?
Pawar is angry because he sees Rahul is getting ready for a role in government too. The talk of Rahul as deputy PM started after Janardhan Dwivedi said he could be in party or
government -- for the first time
Pawar won't be under Rahul, of course! So he is angry with two things -- functioning of governments at the centre and Maharashtra!
When the Cabinet met after Pranab Mukherjee's exit, Pawar sat next to Prime Minister. Then, in a second meeting, Antony sat next to PM
So Pawar wants to know why Congress is shifting pecking order in Cabinet. His real bargain is for a plum portfolio.
Pawar wants defence portfolio and also something more 'lucrative' for his Man Friday, Praful Patel who is upset since he lost civil aviation
He finds his current portfolio of agriculture, hurting his image. And with another bad monsoon, he wants to escape farmers' wrath.
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