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Pawar lets Sangma have his way

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar's meeting with senior party colleague Purno A Sangma today proved to be bit of an anti-climax: Pawar came out virtually endorsing Sangma's induction into the government commission to review the Constitution.

Pawar had airdashed to New Delhi from Bombay last night to persuade Sangma to quit the commission. But following discussions, the NCP chief came out claiming that the former Lok Sabha speaker had joined the review panel of his own volition and in a "private capacity".

In an informal meeting with journalists at his Gurudwara Rakabgank Road residence after his meeting with Sangma, Pawar said his senior party colleague's presence in the panel would, in fact, help the NCP.

" It will help our party prevent the government implementing its ulterior agenda. If the BJP thinks it will get away from anything by trying to manipulate the commission, Sangmaji will be our watchdog," the NCP chief said.

He said he did not think the BJP could manipulate the commission because there were eminent constitutional and legal experts on it who had virtually vouchsafed that they would not allow any change in the basic structure of the Constitution.

Pawar admitted that though the NCP working committee had earlier opposed any move to review the Constitution, "we have realised that Sangmaji's presence in the commission will help us articulate our views and put our foot down if anything goes wrong," he said.

However, well-placed NCP sources indicated that Sangma had categorically told Pawar while he had no ideological differences with him (Pawar), he would raise the issue of people of foreign origin holding top posts in the country.

It is understood that when Pawar realised that Sangma was not willing to budge, he gave way.

This way he has time to gain control and get the former Lok Sabha speaker to fall into line.

Pawar took things easy because he has learnt that Congress members are disenchanted with Sonia Gandhi's leadership and that they are waiting for the assembly poll results to be declared. If the results are bad, they plan to revolt, giving Pawar the opening he was seeking.

The NCP chief also wants the Congress-NCP coalition government in Maharashtra to continue though he was averse to a political showdown with Sangma on the issue of the latter's joining the commission. Sources said that disgruntled Congress members promised to support Sangma if he instigated people in the Congress to raise a banner of revolt against Sonia.

Dinesh Jha, a close confidante of NCP spokesman Devendra Nath Dwivedi, explained the situation clearest: "Pawarji is willing to return to the Congress if he is made the party chief." Jha said, "Sharad Pawar is not in touch with senior Congressmen but senior Congressmen are in touch with him."

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