PM reaches out at Pawar, called very valued colleague

New Delhi: In a bid to resolve the stand-off between the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday reached out to the Maratha leader Sharad Pawar and hailed him as a very valued colleague.

The Prime Minister made a statement praising the Maratha strongman saying, “Mr Sharad Pawar is a very valued colleague on mine whose knowledge, wisdom and experience are a great asset to our government.”
Following the statement from the Prime Minister, Pawar wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi saying he would continue of be in alliance.
Pawar wrote the letter pointing that the NCP “has been a strong and progressive ally of the UPA”.
“We have been a strong and progressive ally of the UPA and we shall continue to be in alliance,” he said.
Pawar further said in the letter, “We are a small party. It doesn’t confer stature or respectability so we need to build for future.
“Therefore, we need to devote more time to build up our party for future,” said the NCP chief.
Addressing a press conference later, Pawar’s trusted lieutenant and cabinet colleague Praful Patel said, “The UPA government is entering its last phase before the next General Elections and NCP along with UPA should gear up for 2014. For that government should be more decisive, more committed to the issues which are before the people of the country.”

“…Certainly with the presence of Pawar, a leader of tall stature, the UPA under the able leadership of PM will be able to solve the issues,” Patel said addressing the media after a meeting of the NCP top brass.

“NCP has been a very responsible allay for the last 8 years and has been pillars of strength both inside and outside in functioning of UPA government,” he added.