Opposition parties differ on state polls but agree on need for Lok Sabha unity: Sharad Pawar

Mumbai, Oct 28 (PTI) Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday acknowledged there are differences of opinion among opposition parties over putting up a united front in some state polls but there also a feeling that all must fight the Lok Sabha polls together.

Addressing a press conference, Pawar said the trends of the Assembly polls (in five states set to be held in November) suggest the situation is favourable for the opposition, but added he had no authentic information to comment on whether there would be a change (in government) at the national level.

The Bharatiya Janata Party does not have governments in a majority of states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Punjab, he pointed out.

"We have some views. A majority view (among opposition parties) suggests that everyone should come together for Parliament polls (against the BJP-led NDA). For Vidhan Sabha (Assembly polls in states), we have a difference of opinion," Pawar said.

He pointed out there are states where the Congress is an important party and so are regional outfits because of which these issues must be resolved across the table.

"But while doing so, it is not so easy in state polls the way it is in the Lok Sabha elections. Among our colleagues, there is definitely a feeling we have to come together for Lok Sabha polls. There is difficulty in some state elections. But for Lok Sabha, there is a feeling we should work together,” said Pawar.

Pawar, a key leader of the 28-party opposition bloc Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), cited the example of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, which is effectively a "strong" party in West Bengal, but the Left parties or the Congress cannot be "bypassed".

Pawar said people have been urging him to expedite the work of INDIA alliance, which means more work has to be done on it. PTI PR BNM BNM