Mumbai:
The NCP today said that Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has no Prime Ministerial ambitions and won't contest the next Lok Sabha elections.
Hitting out at Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray for his comments that Mr Pawar nursed ambitions to become PM while his nephew Ajit Pawar wanted to be Chief Minister, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said Mr Thackeray has been away from mainstream politics and hence does not know that Sharad Pawar has decided not to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
"Uddhav says he had no such (chief ministerial) dreams. You don't get such dreams because your party has no strength. Take care of your own house before you criticise others. Your party and home were divided because of power struggle.
He said despite the NCP workers' demand that he contest the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Pawar is firm on his decision.
"NCP knows its strength. Our leaders cannot be in the PM race by contesting only 22 Lok Sabha seats," he said.