However, dismissing speculation that he supported CPN chief Sharad Pawar as president of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Shiv Sena said he was in favor of strengthening the UPA to take on the BJP. The speculation arose after Sena spokesman Saamana published an editorial on Saturday highlighting the need to strengthen the UPA.
“We have not said that Sharad Pawar should be appointed president of the UPA,” Sena’s chief spokesman Sanjay Raut told The Indian Express on Saturday.
He said that nowhere in the editorial does it say that Pawar should be named president of the UPA. “But the editorial does mention that Pawar is the only leader who is being taken seriously by the BJP, as well as other opposition parties,” he said.
“Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes it seriously. West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet with Pawar to follow his advice to fight the BJP in the next Assembly elections in the state. Pawar seems to be the most capable leader at this juncture that has a wider acceptance, “said Raut.
“Congress did not even have the necessary numbers in Lok Sabha to obtain the position of leader of the opposition. In the recent Bihar elections, Tejashwi Yadav proved his worth, but Congress underperformed. This truth cannot be hidden. Rahul Gandhi is putting up a good fight, his efforts are to be commended. But somewhere, something is missing… ”, he added.
Raut stated that the UPA has become an NGO. “The UPA parties have not taken the agitation of the farmers seriously. The UPA has some parties, but there is confusion about what exactly they are doing, ”he said.
Saamana’s editorial read: “Priyanka Gandhi was arrested on the streets of Delhi… And Rahul Gandhi is being mocked. Mamata Banerjee is being cornered, Uddhav Thackeray cannot work. Kamal Nath’s government was brought down by the Prime Minister himself … all of this is dangerous for democracy. Who is responsible for this? An almost dead opposition? This scene has to change. If the leadership of Congress does not reflect on it, then the country will face a difficult time ahead. “
Saying there was a question mark on the leadership of Congress, the editorial said: “Congress has lost its stalwarts like Motilal Vora and Ahmed Patel. In these circumstances, who will preside over Congress, what is the future of the UPA, the confusion remains… For a year now, a party like Congress, which has a long history, does not have a full-time president. Sonia Gandhi has managed the party well so far, but the party is losing leaders around her. “
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