'Sonia is a magnanimous leader of the coalition'

FRIENDS FOR NOW: At the moment there is no other option but to support the UPA, says Praful Patel.

          

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Praful Patel: No, I think you are reading too much into that. Mr Sharad Pawar’s statement of fighting as the UPA should be welcomed and should be looked in the context of a long-term relationship. And ultimately, UPA is led by Mrs Sonia Gandhi and she is the Congress party’s president. The fact that we want to have a long-term relationship with the Congress party, in fact, speaks of an understanding which is very relevant in the context of Mrs Gandhi.

Karan Thapar: The problem is, Mr Patel, you talk rhetorically of a long-term relationship with the Congress party but your action in Meghalaya and your action in Nagaland is to actually ally with the BJP – Congress’ worst enemy.

Praful Patel: No, no, I think it is not understood fully. We fought in Meghalaya and in Nagaland against the Congress party.

Karan Thapar: Absolutely. You’re not with them. So why do you want to be their ally at the National Election and fight against them at the states?

Praful Patel: That’s what I said, limited issue of Meghalaya or Nagaland should not be looked upon as a totality of relationship between Congress and the NCP.

Karan Thapar: But how can it not take Meghalaya as an example? After 60 MLAs, the BJP was only successful in getting one elected; you ended up with a cabinet of six and that one MLA becomes a cabinet-rank minister. Look at the priority and importance of giving the BJP…

Praful Patel: No, no, I think that is not understood fully. In the North-East, in the smaller states, one MLA, whether it’s of this party or that party – I think everybody has hobnobbed with anybody to form a government. Why are we only looking at Meghalaya and referring to one MLA of the BJP?

Karan Thapar: Let’s broaden the picture, and picture your behaviour overall. You and Sharad Pawar were the only UPA leaders at L K Advani’s book launch. Sharad Pawar is the only UPA leader who meets Balasaheb Thackeray. You have an alliance with the Shiv Sena in Pune, and now you have alliances with the BJP in Meghalaya and Nagaland. What sort of polygamous politics do you believe in?

Praful Patel: I think this is again…Mr Balasaheb Thackeray and Mr Pawar have known each other. After all, we are from the same state, they have worked together for the last 40 years and why do we say Balasaheb Thackeray would…

Karan Thapar: …and then Balasaheb Thackeray says Pawar would make a superb prime minister, adding fuel to Mrs Gandhi’s fire.

Praful Patel: Mr Balasaheb Thackeray voted for Mrs Pratibha Patil as the President of India and as a candidate of the Congress and the UPA-supported candidate. At that time, nobody said why Mr Balasaheb Thackeray could support Mrs Pratibha Patil!

Karan Thapar: Let me tell you what Congress says about you. Abhishek Manu Singhvi says that the NCP is running with the hares and it’s trying to hunt with the hounds; I don’t think it is incorrect – you’re trying to have it both ways.