INDIA Bloc Doesn’t Need A PM Face, Says Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: Among the multiple areas of difference within the INDIA Opposition bloc parties is the question of who should be projected as Prime Minister candidate.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal suggested after last month’s INDIA bloc meeting that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge should be the Opposition’s PM face.

That obviously didn’t go down well with other parties and leaders.

On Saturday, veteran politician and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar made his stand clear and opined that INDIA bloc does not need a prime ministerial face.

Instead, INDIA group should seek votes in the name of the alliance.

“We don’t think there is any need to project a face, and we should ask for votes in its name (INDIA). We believe we can give the country an alternative,” Pawar told mediapersons after a virtual meeting of the INDIA bloc which was skipped by some parties including TMC and AAP.

Backing up his logic, Pawar referred to the 1977 example when Morarji Desai became Prime Minister under Janata Party umbrella without him being named as the PM face before the general election.

Pawar said some leaders wanted Kharge as chairman of INDIA bloc.

“Some leaders suggested that Kharge should be the leader of the INDIA alliance group. Many agreed… It was also suggested that Nitish Kumar become the convenor. However, Nitish Kumar refused, saying it is not needed for now,” Pawar informed.

Pawar stressed that “there is no displeasure within the alliance group.