Sharad Pawar turns down Fadnavis’ request seeking support for BJP VP candidate

NCP founder Sharad Pawar told media persons here on Friday that he turned down a request by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking NCP’s support for NDA’s Vice President candidate CP Radhakrishnan.

Significantly, Sharad Pawar’s statement has come a day after Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that “Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Devendra Fadnavis called Uddhav Thackeray requesting him to vote (for CP Radhakrishnan). Singh must have requested other parties to do the same. When you (the NDA) have a majority, why do you need support from the opposition? It is a clear indication that the NDA’s position is not as strong as it is trying to show.”

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Raut had stated that the BJP-led NDA is not confident about securing a majority for its Vice President candidate CP Radhakrishnan, which is why the BJP has begun to contact opposition parties seeking their support.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference here on Friday, Sharad Pawar said, “The election for the post of Vice President is underway. We have held meetings and submitted the nomination for retired Supreme Court judge Justice B Sudarshan. The ruling party announced its candidate, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called me requesting my cooperation. However, I said it was not possible, as he (Radhakrishnan) holds different views.”

It is learnt that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also turned down the request by Fadnavis to support CP Radhakrishnan.

“When former Jharkhand Chief Minister Soren went to meet then Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Soren was arrested from the Raj Bhawan itself, which is the official residence of the Governor. At that time, Soren said that he is at the Raj Bhavan and he must be arrested outside the building, but his request was not heeded and he was arrested at the Raj Bhavan itself when then Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan was present at the Raj Bhawan. This was a misuse of power, and Radhakrishnan did nothing to curb such misuse of power, despite having constitutional power to do so,” Sharad Pawar said.

“We (the INDIA bloc) are not worried even if the ruling NDA alliance has more votes. All Opposition votes will go to Reddy. We’re not expecting any surprises. I spoke to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and discussed it. He also informed us that his decision and ours are the same. We will back our candidate just as they (NDA) will back their candidate for the election to the Vice President’s post,” Sharad Pawar said, expressing confidence that the Vice Presidential election result “will be different this time”.

“We have seen 300 MPs taking to the streets and getting arrested. Today, Rahul Gandhi is being glorified in Bihar, which is a state with economic problems. However, politically, the state is conscious. The first struggle against the 1975-77 Emergency imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took place in Bihar,” Sharad Pawar said.

“The Election Commission is not taking a clean and independent stand. They did not take the stand they should have taken. We do not expect much from the Election Commission now. Rahul Gandhi brought all this truth to the fore, but it started from Bihar. According to Rahul Gandhi, 140 people are living in one house in a slum,” Sharad Pawar said, referring to allegations of “vote theft” practised by the BJP.