New Delhi: The NCP’s stand-off with the Congress leadership continued today with the party saying it has “serious issues” over the functioning of the government and the coalition but remained vague on reports of resignation by senior ministers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel.
Rejecting as “absurd” that Pawar was upset over the denial of Number 2 slot in the Cabinet, Patel said the party has raised “completely different” issues with the Prime Minister in a communication and with Sonia Gandhi and what ultimately the party decides will be communicated after its meeting on Monday.
Without disclosing the specific aspects of discord, Praful Patel said, “our issues are, functioning of the Government.” Reuters
Asked whether Pawar and he have resigned, Heavy Industries Minister Patel said, “till such time we have not given any formal resignation…the issue is not resignation…till it is not accepted…we have sent a communication.”
Patel said the UPA-II was entering the last two years of its term and NCP wanted the government to be “more decisive” and “more committed” to the issues before the people of the country.
Without disclosing the specific aspects of discord, he said, “our issues are: functioning of the Government, functioning of UPA and functioning of the larger coalition.”
“We do have certain issues on which we want some new direction,” he said. However, he maintained that the party will continue to be an “integral” part of the UPA.
Agencies
