"We hope that the Congress rethinks the decision of not having pact with UPA allies at national level. Our worry is that if we are forced to go in for local-level adjustments, we will have to include those who are opposed to the Congress," Pawar told reporters here. Though Pawar did not elaborate, his remarks about having a pact with 'rivals of Congress' came in backdrop of recent reports that the NCP may align with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra in the ensuing elections.
"Our desire is to have a national alliance with Congress. I hope the Congress takes a decision on the issue at least a week before last date for filing nominations (for the Lok Sabha elections)," Pawar said.
Asked if he was giving a deadline to Congress, Pawar said "We belong to a small party. How can we give an ultimatum to a big party like the Congress?"
Asked what he thought was the reason for Congress to decide on not having a tie-up with UPA partners at the national level, Pawar said "every party thinks of how to build their own base...nad they have every right to do so."
"If we make adjustments at local level, many times we will have to take with us those opposed to Congress. If Congress goes ahead with its decision, we will have to take separate route in separate states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Orissa and the North-East," Pawar said.
He stressed that there will be confusion among people if the UPA partners did not face elections together. Replying to a query over NCP, part of the ruling coalition with Congress in Maharashtra , insisting on sharing the chief ministerial chair for half the term, Pawar said "The Congress has shown us the way."
He cited the example of power sharing formula adopted by the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir which paved the way for Ghulam Nabi Azad to become chief minister.
Pawar said his party had seat-sharing talks with regional leaders like Chandrababu Naidu and Jayalalithaa but "no final decision has been taken".
