Pawar not to contest Lok Sabha election


New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS): Veteran politician and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has said he is not in the prime ministerial race and will not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"I am not going to contest Lok Sabha election. That decision I have taken," Pawar told CNN-IBN when asked if he was hoping to be the prime ministerial candidate.

"I suppose, I go to Rajya Sabha, that is possible. I may not contest a direct election because I contested 14 elections - this is my 46th year in parliamentary and state legislature without single day's gap.

"So enough. That is why I (have) decided not to contest. But I might come in Rajya Sabha. Nothing wrong with that."

He explained why he was not in the race to be a prime minister.

"There might be good friends in every cross-section of society but unless and until some respectable number is there, one should not expect," Pawar said.

"But expecting the highest position without enough numbers has no meaning. I am a realistic politician," Pawar, the agriculture minister in the Manmohan Singh government.

Pawar started his political career with Congress when he first entered the Maharashtra assembly in 1967. He has been chief minister of the state three times.

The 72-year-old has served 46 years in India's parliament and the Maharashtra assembly. He has held many key posts in the cabinet including the ministries of defence and food.

He came quite close to becoming India's prime minister in 1991 after the assassination of prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. But the Congress named P.V. Narasimha Rao.

In 1999, he quit the Congress and formed the NCP along with Purno Sangma and Tariq Anwar. But the NCP and Congress formed an alliance in 1999, and have been together since then.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Leslie fernandes, Brahmagiri, Udupi

    Mon, Aug 05 2013

    VAS BHAI,
    KYA BAAT HAI...???
    BANAAYAA HUWA BI FUKKAT MEIN JAANE SE CHUP CHAAP GHAR BAITNA SAHI SAMJHA IS CHORON KE RAJA NE,,,
    AB TO KOYI ISKE PEECHE NAHIN PADEGAANAA...
    MAGAR BHAGWAN KE HAATH LAMBE HEIN...
    JO CHUPA RUSTUM KO BI SABAK SIKA DEGA...
    RETIREMENT IS THE BIGGEST DRAMA IN POLITICS...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • R Mallar, Kasaragod/ Dubai

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    bahut naam (our maal) kamaya. ab to usko thoda enjoy karloon!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    What is the difference between Advani and Sachin......

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bennet Vas, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    Thank you sirjeee ,,,,,A long innings during which you have amassed wealth enough to educate / shelter and feed India's underprivileged for a few more decades.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian Dsouza, Udupi/Mumbai

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    Not a big favor to the nation
    any way he is going to retain remote control over his nominees!

    However he was never communal
    (I mean not hating anybody on
    the basis of cast or religion)

    Mr. Pawar and his party must be financially very healthy today to retire and enjoy life at wine yard resorts.

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya, Belman/Washington,DC

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    Pawar can immigrate to Karachi and open NCP branch in Karachi with his friend Dawood....If you say he is "not communal" in that sense,,, I agree with you absolutely....

    ...JH...

    DisAgree [11] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • pamela tauro, Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    Dear All party politicians,

    Its better to retire after 70 years. Do not contest any election, but give your true guidance to the youngsters.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Declan, Mumbai

    Sun, Aug 04 2013

    COULD YOU REDUCE THAT AGE LIMIT TO 63 YEARS SO WE CAN GET RID OF MODI TOO ?

    DisAgree [9] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Pawar not to contest Lok Sabha election



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.