Pawar sings Nitish tune, dodges question on Rahul

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday reiterated that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be the credible face of an anti-BJP alliance in the next Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to the media outside Parliament here, Pawar said Nitish along with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav have provided a political alternative to the people of Bihar.

"I said he (Nitish) has proved his mettle in his state, and when somebody has proved his mettle in the state and somebody enjoys the full support of the state, I think people take them seriously," Pawar said.

"I said that if the present political circumstances in the country exist (after five years), then a single party will not be able to pose an alternative. Nitish ji had earlier said that all like-minded parties should come together and give an alternative. So, it is a good suggestion," he added.

The NCP chief, however, dodged media posers whether Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would not emerge as a political alternative in the next elections.

Pawar reaffirmed that the Congress led by Sonia Gandhi would be more effective than a Rahul Gandhi-led party

The NCP chief further said Bahujan Samajwadi Party supremo Mayawati is presently in a strong position in Uttar Pradesh as per his personal assessment.

It may be recalled here that the Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance had trumped Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP alliance in the Bihar Assembly elections last year.