TOI
New Delhi, Mar 19: NCP leader Sharad Pawar on Thursday clarified that he is not in the race of prime minister.
Speaking to reporters Pawar said, "My party NCP is contesting very few seats, we will not have the parliamentary strength and that factor cannot be ignored." Pawar had earlier hinted that he is also in the running for the PM post and that the UPA partners could also have prime ministerial candidates.
This new development will be a relief to the Congress, which until now has been uneasy with the NCP's increasingly projection of its chief as its prime ministerial candidate. Pawar’s political ambition has led to confusion and tension within the UPA allies.
Earlier, the Congress asked its ally NCP leader Sharad Pawar to issue clarification on the PM issue. This after Pawar voiced his political ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister. Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan was expected to hold talks with Praful Patel to settle the issue.