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Pawar: UPA should fight elections collectively

New Delhi: The Nationalist Congress Party, a key constituent of the UPA coalition at the Centre, on Friday proposed that the entire UPA should “collectively” fight the next Lok Sabha elections.

“Our desire is to contest elections with the Congress. We feel the UPA should collectively fight the elections as UPA. We will prefer to fight along with UPA partners throughout India like we do in Maharashtra and Goa,” Union Agriculture Minister and NCP president Sharad Pawar said during an interaction with PTI journalists here.

Mr. Pawar’s remarks assume significance against the backdrop of his meeting with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackarey at the latter’s residence some time ago and his presence at a function here on Wednesday where BJP leader L.K. Advani’s book was released .

He categorically rejected the possibility of the NCP going with the BJP and suggested that nothing should be read into the saffron party giving outside support to the coalition government in Meghalaya, in which the NCP plays an important role.

Mr. Pawar was effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying his working was “much more democratic.” — PTI

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