UPA may set up coordination committee in wake of NCP revolt

The United Progressive Allliance ( UPA) is likely to set up a coordination committee in the wake of a mini revolt by Nationalist Congress Party ( NCP) leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel to ensure that allies are taken on board on all crucial decisions, a senior cabinet minister told ET on the condition of anonymity.

On Thursday Pawar had written to the Prime Minister highlighting his party;s disenchantment with the Congress on a number of issues. The NCP is believed to be aggrieved that it is not consulted by the Congress on key issues and decisions on all major issues are taken by a core committee comprising of Congress leaders. The party is also believed to be unhappy on other issues such as appointments and stalling of projects backed by it in Maharashtra, a senior Congress leader told ET.

The demand for a coordination committee has come from a number of allies, the Congress leader said. The concept of a coordination committee isn’t new and such a committee was in place during the first term of the UPA.

The Congress is also believed to have assured Pawar that the contentious issue of a number 2 in the government can be resolved by setting up a committee comprising of defence Minister AK Antony, Sharad Pawar and Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde who would officiate in the PM’s absence.