Pawar would 'love to have tea with Bal Thackeray'

Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said that he 'would love to have a cup of tea with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray' during UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Mumbai next week.

Mukherjee is the UPA candidate and is backed by several parties, including Janata Dal-United and Shiv Sena, who are NDA constituents, Pawar told media persons in Mumbai.

"It is important for the candidate to meet and discuss issues with supporting parties and leaders. We have met CPM and TRS leaders as well," he said adding that Shiv Sena had supported UPA nominee for presidential post in 2007 also.

To a question if he would accompany Mukherjee to Thackeray's residence 'Matoshree', Pawar said "if Thackeray had time on July 13, he would love to have a cup of tea" with the Sena chief.

On if Sena leader Manohar Joshi is being considered as a vice presidential candidate, Pawar said there is no proposal from Sena on Joshi's candidature.

"Congress is the largest party in the UPA and it is the prerogative of the party to discuss probable names with the allies. Congress will take decision on vice presidential candidate," he said.