‘My personal relationship with Modi has no place in politics’

Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel speaks to Open

Praful Patel is a well-known face of the Nationalist Congress Party and represents the Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituency. A close associate of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, the savvy, erudite Patel is considered Pawar’s alter ego. A gentleman politician, he speaks his mind. His comments are considered the party line.Prior to becoming Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Patel was Minister for Civil Aviation. It was during his tenure that Air India and Indian Airlines merged. Patel also runs the Ceejay Group, the largest bidi maker in the western region of the country, earning him the sobriquet ‘Bidi King of India’.

Q How has the NCP-Congress relationship been since 2009?

The relationship is good, although it could have been better… Our cooperation in the state and Centre could have been better utilised [to get] more output from our efforts.

Q Isn’t there too much aggression between the leaders of both parties?

It is not aggression. There is a strain sometimes, but it is due to the issue of equality. Just because you have the chief ministership does not mean you have the so-called upper hand. It is a question of understanding priorities… of respect.

Q Due to the controversies surrounding NCP ministries in Maharashtra, few see the party faring well in the elections…

It is still a perception. The fact will be different. Besides, all these imaginary scams have not been proven.

Q Will Congress leaders be vote catchers in Maharashtra?

The past is a witness. How they deliver is something they have to figure out.

Q How do you view the Third Front?

We do not give much credence to it. There cannot be an alternate government without parties that are anchored. The Third Front is a feeble attempt at cobbling last minute alliances. These do not work.

Q Was the recent meeting between Pawar and Modi a message to the Congress?

Mr Pawar is a Union Minister… As a Union Minister, you meet heads of state and various others across the political spectrum. Therefore the meeting between Mr Pawar and Mr Modi cannot be construed as a political meeting. The NCP is in a coalition with the [Congress] and that is something we stand by. So the question of sending messages does not arise.

Q Did the NCP almost have a tie up with the BJP?

It is just speculation.

Q BJP’s Gopinath Munde has said so. According to him, the tie up did not happen because the state BJP unit was opposed to it.

Let Gopinath Munde first attend to his scores with Nitin Gadkari first.

Q Despite your alliance with the UPA, is it not true that the NCP is keeping its options open?

All political parties have to keep their options open… The NCP entered an alliance with the Congress months after our party was formed.

Q You have said that after the court ruling, the Congress should not raise the issue of Modi’s connection with the 2002 riots. Why?

Perceptions and facts of both the 1984 and 2002 riots are different. Contrary to the ruling, the facts and perceptions are completely different.

Q Both you and Sharad Pawar enjoy a good equation with Narendra Modi. Do you think his aggression is needed to run this country?

The personal relationship has no place in our political process and equation.

Q These elections are being talked of as a last chance for Sharad Pawar to be the PM.

Mr Pawar has never aspired to Prime Ministership. He is very practical. He knows the NCP [has] small numbers. He is certainly not day dreaming about it.

About The Author

Haima Deshpande