Pune pattern not be replicated at state, national level: NCP

Mumbai, Apr 26 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today said the 'Pune Pattern', where it joined hands with the Shiv Sena to capture the mayor's post in the Pune Municipal Corporation, cannot be replicated at the state and national level.

Rejecting overtures from Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani, party spokesman Madan Bafna said NCP chief Sharad Pawar has already rejected the idea of a third front.

''Mr Pawar does not believe in becoming the PM by chance of luck like the earlier third front nominees of the 1990s,''he said.

The situation in Pune was entirely different. Since we emerged as single largest party, the natural choice of Mayor was ours.

but, the Congress refused to support us and took help of independents and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to garner support.

So, Shiv Sena supported us,''he said.

''Such things happen at local level and this does not mean that they take place at state or national politics as well,''he asserted.

''We will not be carried away by such display of affection by opposition parties, which is an attempt to create confusion in the minds of the people about our party,'' Mr Bafna said about the Shiv Sena-BJP leaders' comments that they will support Mr Pawar for the Prime Ministership.

The NCP is committed to strengthening the DF government in Maharashtra and UPA in Delhi, he said.

Mr Bafna also refuted the Congress claims that the NCP was responsible for the defeat of the Congress candidates in Ramtek and Jalgaon Lok Sabha by-elections. ''Congress should first try to find out the number of Ranjit Mr Deshmukhs within their party before blaming us,''he said. Deshmukh, a former Cabinet Minister and state unit Congress president, contested the Ramtek seat as independent securing 79,000 votes, which resulted in the defeat of the Congress nominee.

UNI