Shiv Sena lures; Sharad Pawar to ditch UPA and join NDA?

Mumbai, Dec 12: Post Bal Thackeray era,

continues its politics and NCP chief

seems to be its latest target. The NCP patriarch has been offered the PM candidate post if he joins NDA.

Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi on Wednesday, Dec 12 said that Pawar could be a potential PM candidate if he decides to end his tie with UPA and join NDA. The shocking statement surfaced on a day when the Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief was celebrating his 72nd birthday.

Igniting debate over NDA's PM candidate for upcoming Lok Sabha election, Joshi was quoted as saying, "Sharad Pawar is a charismatic leader who can unify people and build a strong organisation. So, we feel that if he joins the NDA, he can be a Prime Ministerial candidate."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA is divided over the prime ministerial candidate for 2014 election. While many support Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the post, others, especially JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar expressed opposition against Modi.

Shiv Sena's current move may not go well with Sonia Gandhi-led UPA which had a clash with Pawar and his party.

NCP and Congress had a spat. Pawar had threatened to quit from the UPA, though they resolved the differences later. Both Congress and NCP had decided that a new coordination mechanism be set up. The coordinated committee will be headed by Mrs Gandhi and similar committee will be set up in Maharashtra too, informed Praful Patel after their meeting with the PM and Congress President.

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