Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Why Pawar defended PM Modi?' that was published in Newsband

Why Pawar defended PM Modi?

Sharad Pawar of the Nationalist Congress Party defended PM Modi on Rafale. Clearly, when he is not signalling to the BJP, the NCP’s principal rival in Maharashtra, he is messaging the Congress, his current ally. He did not take the Congress line that the deal was tainted by crony capitalism. This even led to a revolt within his party; founder-member Tariq Anwar took exception to his remarks and announced his resignation.

Without a doubt, the NCP would like to make the most of the tensions between the BJP and its partner-in-government, the Shiv Sena. Pawar knows he cannot be seen to be irrevocably tied to the fortunes of the Congress. In the last Lok Sabha polls, the BJP emerged stronger than the Sena for the first time. But the 2014 electoral understanding for the Lok Sabha seats is unlikely to hold for 2019.

Although the Sena cannot possibly join hands with the Congress, it can hurt the BJP by going it alone. The NCP has never allied with the BJP, but it is not inconceivable that such an option exists for Pawar. The NCP is in a position to alter the outcome in many of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, and Pawar would like both the BJP and the Congress to take note. Don’t miss this point.

Pawar is mature and his utterances are to warn Congress and no political mileage could be made. Pawar is a seasoned politician and should be taken seriously.

It is generally felt that having swept the local polls in Maharashtra, BJP doesn't seem to need any allies for the LS poll. Their path to victory seems to be clear with the kind of work carried out by Fadnavis. Both Shiv Sena & NCP would stand marginalized along with Congress as they have been discredited beyond imagination in people's minds as highly corrupt. It would be in the rightness of things to reject all these power brokers who have been time tested & found to be worthless & bring again the BJP Government as they appear to be far more efficient & honest in comparison with other parties. People got a much better deal in the last 4 years compared to the previous 65 years & country would be well served by abandoning all those who bring up other parties even for consideration. We have had enough of bad, inefficient administrations. Let us all bind together under Modi to lift the nation towards development. That would be the greatest service of each citizen towards the poorest in the country who are voiceless.

There are of course many who feel that Maharashtra electoral battle may become more complex than ever before with each party vying for hegemony over other for political control

The stand that Pawar has taken reminds one of a similar stand that was taken by Nitish Kumar, heading the Mahgatbandhan government in Bihar as CM when he unlike alliance partner did not deride demonetization. This is actually a contestation of political scoring and relevant bargain which parties generally do to remain relevant.