New Delhi, Mar 19 : Trying to settle the issue once and for all, the Congress has asked its ally NCP leader Sharad Pawar to issue clarification on the PM issue. This after Pawar voiced his political ambitions of becoming the Prime Minister.

“I was the first to ask for Manmohan Singh to be made PM candidate. But Congress didn't accept my proposal. They decided to take the case of each state separately. Then how are they posing single candidates. In that situation all parties can have their own candidates,” Pawar had said after Manmohan Singh was posed as their PM candidate by the congress.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan will hold talks with Praful Patel on Thursday to settle the issue.

Sharad Pawar’s political ambition has led to confusion and tension within the UPA allies. The rival NDA too has been using the issue for its campaign purpose.

Referring to recent statement by Pawar that a Maharashtrian should get an opportunity to become PM, Modi said by making Pratibha Patil the President, Congress employed a "shrewd ploy" to sideline the NCP president shutting doors on his prime ministerial ambitions.

The seasoned politician in Pawar, however, failed to gauge the Congress game, Modi added.