New Delhi, Apr 3 : The news that NCP leader Sharad Pawar will be attending a rally of Third Front leaders in Bhubaneswar will be a cause of worry for Congress, as well as BJP.

Pawar, one of the most seasoned and experienced leaders of India, has made no bones about his intentions to give a shot at the top post. In fact, his desire to be the PM has already staring eating into the NCP-Congress relations.

With this development, those relations will only deteriorate. For it would send a very confusing signal to the electorates that a same combine is going ahead with two prime ministerial candidates.

With Congress firm on the candidature of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, any move on their part to indirectly support Pawar's candidature by remaining on good terms with the NCP will only cost them dearly.

The choices before Congress are really tough.