Union Social Justice Minister Ramdas Athawale has said that, if NCP Chief Sharad Pawar wishes to contest the Presidential Election 2017, than he should join the NDA. He said that, he would support Sharad only as a NDA candidate and not as a candidate of opposition party.
Athawale commented this in Dombivili in Thane, on Monday. He had made similar comments last week in Nagpur. The repetitive comments of Athawale, about Sharad being a candidate for presidential election has geared up the suspicion of Pawar’s name being earlier discussed by the Opposition camp for the presidential post.
However Pawar, has said that he would not be contesting the polls.
When questioned about, who should be the next president, Athawale said, this decision lies with the NDA. He also said that if a Marathi manoos (Marathi man) became the President, he would be really happy. Pointing out the good relation of Sharad Pawar with Prime Minister Narendra modi, Athawale said that Pawar should meet up with the PM and BJP president Amit Shah and discuss about his candidature. He further added that only a NDA candidate would win the elections and said that they would support him only if he fights as an NDA nominated candidate and not contest as a UPA candidate.
At an event in Hingoli last week, Dilip Kamble, the state social justice minister had said, “Journalists write anything for money and they should be thrashed with shoes.” Regarding this controversy Athawale said that “Journalists are our friends. They have a right to ask questions”.