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Friday 25 October 2013

Rahul Gandhi still has to prove mettle: Sharad Pawar

Rahul Gandhi still has to prove mettle: Sharad Pawar
Pawar refused to elaborate on the issue saying he was not opposed to Rahul's candidature for the post of prime minister.
NEW DELHI: Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar on Thursday said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has to prove his mettle before taking up a bigger role after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"One has to prove his mettle in administration. Rahul Gandhi should have joined the Manmohan Singh government. He did not join," the NCP chief told a TV channel. "I would have preferred if he had joined the Manmohan Singh government... definitely it would have been beneficial for him," he added.

However, Pawar refused to elaborate on the issue saying he was not opposed to Rahul's candidature for the post of prime minister.

When asked whether he would be uncomfortable working under Rahul, Pawar said, "Here, there is no question of working together. There is a generation gap."

The NCP boss maintained that the two major political parties -- Congress and BJP -- may be short of the magic number to form government. "BJP might get some more seats. Congress might lose some. But the numbers may not add up," he said.

Reiterating his support for the Congress irrespective of election results, the Maratha strongman argued that that UPA had a better prospect of getting support of regional allies. "I am with Congress. My association will be with Congress. Tomorrow, if situation comes, I will stand with Congress and UPA and will help to get like-minded forces to form the government," he said, adding that Congress must work with allies.

Pawar clarified that he was not going to contest in the next Lok Sabha elections, dismissing rumours that he was in the race for the post of prime minister.

He rejected the view that there was a Narendra Modi wave in some parts of the country. Reacting to a question on Modi, Pawar said, "I have contested 14 elections so far. In my experience of electioneering, those who begin much earlier will be disappointed."

Though he admitted that traders were taking advantage, Pawar maintained that his ministry was not responsible for the onion crisis, arguing that the ministry of food and consumer affairs handled the matter.

Pawar said farmers made no money in the soaring onion prices while middlemen got rich.

Rejecting the blame on his ministry for the crisis, Pawar said, "There should be some knowledge of ground realities. To increase the production from agriculture is my job. The production of onion is on higher side this year."