New Delhi, March 28
The Congress finds itself in a delicate position with NCP strongman and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar inclined to back the candidature of former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi for the Rajya Sabha following the resignation of Sanjay Nirupam from the Upper House of Parliament.
Sources close to the NCP chief opine that Mr Pawar is in favour of Mr Joshi, a confidant of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, being elected unanimously. The Congress, however, is said to have strong reservations in this regard.
The argument advanced by the NCP is that as there is barely 14 months remaining for anyone elected to the Rajya Sabha in the vacancy caused by Mr Nirupam, it will be better if the person concerned is elected unopposed.
Having defied the diktat of Mr Thackeray, Mr Nirupam had no option but to make his exit from the Shiv Sena and resign the Rajya Sabha seat. Mr Nirupam is now anxiously waiting to join one of the mainstream national parties but the Congress is keeping its cards close to its chest. In any case, the issue of Mr Nirupam joining the Congress depends solely on party President Sonia Gandhi.
Interestingly, a section of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress committee is quietly lobbying that Mr Nirupam be brought to the Rajya Sabha again. Simply put, this section is not averse to Mr Nirupam joining the Congress bandwagon despite the reservations in the party high command.
The NCP believes that there will be strong opposition to Mr Nirupam’s candidature and that the ruling NDA will not be the loser if Mr Joshi entered the Rajya Sabha.
