This Article is From Apr 01, 2014

Sharad Pawar wanted to join NDA, we didn't allow it: Uddhav Thackeray to NDTV

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray tells NDTV he blocked Sharad Pawar's entry into the NDA

Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of the Shiv Sena, today said Congress ally Sharad Pawar wanted to cross over to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance or NDA this year, but he stopped it.

"Pawar always keeps a door open in every election to change sides. He was open to discussing both pre-poll and post-poll alliance with the NDA. But not just me, BJP's Gopinath Munde and other Maharashtra leaders also said that if he joins, we want out," Mr Thackeray told NDTV in an exclusive interview. (Watch interview here)

Mr Pawar's party immediately denied it and accused Mr Thackeray of lying. "There is no truth to what Uddhav Thackeray is saying. There is no question of allying with the NDA," said NCP's Nawab Mallik.

The Sena leader's comments came hours after he warned the BJP, through an interview in his party's mouthpiece Saamna, that his party would fight any move to bring Mr Pawar to the NDA after the polls.

"We will not allow it," he was quoted as saying. "The people of the country are extremely angry with the UPA regime. Seeking NCP's support would mean showing disrespect to popular sentiment." (Full coverage: India Votes 2014)

Opinion polls predict that the BJP will win the election but fall short of a majority, which could make it dependent on allies to take power at the Centre. (The Final Word: India's Biggest Opinion Poll)

Mr Pawar, 73, enjoys a good rapport with leaders across parties and was known to be close to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray despite political differences. "He was my father's friend, not mine," Uddhav remarked today.

The NCP leader was seen to be warming up to the BJP when he said in February that there was no need for a debate on Narendra Modi's alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots when the courts had ruled on it. He reportedly even met Mr Modi, but dismissed it as routine.

Since then, however, the veteran Maharashtra politician has gone back to criticising Mr Modi, even describing him as a person "who needs hospital treatment for talking rubbish," on Sunday.

A Supreme Court inquiry has said there is no evidence of Mr Modi's involvement, which was upheld by a local court in December.
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