Sharad Pawar's comment on ally Rahul Gandhi : Congress leaders raise objections

A lot of controversies have sparked up between the two allies partners of the ruling Maha Aghadi Vikas (MVA) government in the state.

It all began after the NCP chief Sharad Pawar in an interview stated that Rahul Gandhi appears to lack the “consistency” needed to be accepted as a leader by the country.

In a clarification to Pawar’s statement, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said Pawar's comment should be considered as fatherly advice. "Whatever Sharad Pawar saheb said in the interview with a news organisation should be considered as fatherly advice of a veteran leader. MVA is a government of all three parties. It was Sharad Pawar who criticised Barack Obama for commenting on Rahul Gandhi in his book. Pawar saheb had clearly said Obama must not comment on leaders of other countries," Tapase was quoted by news agency ANI.

When asked if the country was ready to accept Rahul Gandhi as the leader, at an event, Pawar had said, "There are some questions in this regard. There seems to be less consistency."

However, it comes across as Pawar's comments have not gone down well with the Congress, which is a constituent in the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government along with the NCP.

Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Yashomati Thakur urged the alliance partners to stop commenting on the leadership of the Congress if they wanted a stable government in the state.

"Our leadership is very strong and stable. The formation of MVA is a result of our strong belief in democratic values... I must appeal colleagues in MVA if you want stable government in Maharashtra, then stop commenting on leadership of Congress. Everybody should follow basic rules of coalition," Thakur tweeted.

Senior politician Sharad Pawar seems to have fallen short to understand Rahul Gandhi, said Maharashtra minister Balasaheb Thorat, who heads the state Congress unit. He also praised Rahul Gandhi for emerging out of a personal crisis and leading the party.

He further added that Pawar is a senior leader and everyone at Congress respects him. Thorat maintains that Rahul Gandhi has a bright future and he will certainly take on the BJP.

Moreover, clarifying it further, NCP and Shiv Sena leaders said that the comments had no connection with the stability of the three-party state government. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the statement must be viewed as “directions”.