Sharad Pawar suggests INDIA bloc parties to contest Lok Sabha polls together, assembly polls separately

Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar has suggested that INDIA bloc parties could resolve seat-sharing differences by contesting the Lok Sabha polls together and assembly polls separately. Taking a dig at BJP for breaking parties, Pawar suggested that the party should "change its symbol from lotus to washing machine", as it "washes away corruption and crimes of all those switching sides and joining the party".

At NCP's extended working committee meeting, Pawar assured party workers that hearts of people don't change with change in election symbols. He said he had contested on five symbols so far and won all the time. This message to party workers comes as the Election Commission is set to hear rival factions of NCP (led by Pawar and Ajit Pawar) on Friday.

On his political journey, Pawar said, "I first contested on the symbol of a pair of bullocks carrying a yoke, then on a spinning wheel, a cow and calf, the hand and, lastly, on NCP symbol of clock. And, every time, people gave me their blessings. The common people of this country are smart enough... So, no need to worry, people's hearts don't change with the change of election symbol."


Asserting that the mood of the country was changing, he said if one looked at India's map, it was clear how many states BJP won through elections and how many by breaking parties. "People of India wouldn't accept this vindictive politics of BJP. We are trying to give an alternative through the INDIA bloc though there are some differences, for example, in West Bengal between Trinamool and Congress, and Trinamool and the Left. So, what we are saying is contest Lok Sabha polls together for the larger good. Then, later, you can contest assembly polls separately," Pawar said.

Talking about the arrest of AAP leader Sanjay Singh and the raids on news organisation NewsClick, Pawar said, "People hardly knew about ED before the BJP came to power. BJP made people aware about its existence."

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for using official programmes to make political speeches and for attacking the Opposition, saying that he should distinguish the role of being head of the government and being a party leader.