Sharad Pawar close to sealing pact with Congress in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI: After a flurry of reports on NCP leader Sharad Pawar's political plans, the Maratha strongman is set to seal a seat sharing pact with Congress that endorses the status quo of Congress contesting 26 Lok Sabha seats to NCP's 22.

The decision is expected to formalized early next week after NCP leaders Pawar and Praful Patel met senior Congress leader A K Anthony recently and more or less agreed to replicate the existing arrangement.

There is a possibility of some seats being swapped with the Hingoli constituency coming to Congress in exchange for Jalna. Congress is seeking the Hingoli seat for Indian Youth Congress chief Rajiv Satav.

Pawar's recent remarks supporting Patel's statement that lack of judicial indictment of BJP leader Narendra Modi must be accepted had set off speculation that NCP could be moving towards the national democratic alliance camp.

Pawar has denied any plans to ditch Congress, but this did not quell speculation that he might be keeping options open for a post-poll scenario.

The agriculture minister is quite clear that breaking with Congress ahead of elections serves no purpose as there is no alternative alliance in place. In the circumstances, both Congress and NCP need one another being partners in the Maharashtra government.

Elections in Maharashtra are due in October this year and are certain to be influenced by the Lok Sabha poll result. In 2004 and 2009, Congress-NCP won the elections buoyed by UPA victories and are set to complete 15 years in office.

The uncertainty about the post poll scenario reflects the assessment in NCP quarters that Congress leadership is appearing shaky in the face of the challenge posed by the Gujarat chief minister who has emerged front runner.