Pawar welcomes Congress' appeal to secular parties to join

NCP chief Sharad Pawar today described as a "good sign" Congress' appeal to all secular parties to join its endeavour for the formation of the next government.  

"It is good that the Congress has realised that the Left parties are part of the secular grouping. The Congress has started having a realistic approach. It is a good sign. We are happy," Pawar said.  

He stated this to reporters when asked about senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi's statement that the UPA was intact and it has not left any of its allies and "all secular parties are welcome" in its endeavour to form the next government.  

NCP is part of the UPA and Pawar has been pleading for long that the Congress should reach out the Left parties which had supported its government for over four years.  

"After the elections, the UPA leaders will be meeting to assess the situation and decide the future course of action," he said.  

Pawar dismissed as "table news" reports that he had a telephonic talk with Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray recently.       

"This is all wrong. I am told he has gone abroad and I do not even know where he has gone," he said.