NCP president Sharad Pawar not likely to campaign for his party

NEW DELHI: NCP president Sharad Pawar is unlikely to campaign for his party or its alliance partners in Bihar despite declaration of his party colleague Tariq Anwar as the CM candidate of the ‘third front’ comprising NCP, SP, SJP and Pappu Yadav’s outfit.

However, Anwar is still keen that his party boss address at least a token rally in his Katihar constituency as a face-saver, even though the dominant view among senior NCP leaders is for Pawar keeping off Bihar campaign.

“Given the national political importance the extremely close fight between the BJP front and Grand Alliance of RJD, JD(U) and Congress has assumed, Mr Pawar is unlikely to campaign in Bihar for the Third Front,” said a party source close to Pawar.

Since Pawar has maintained a rapport with many regional parties who have the potential to trigger a realignment in coalition politics, some in NCP opined it did not suit his party’s interests by aligning with the ‘MSY brand’ of politics.