'Viable alternative govt' will be formed after May 23: Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar Saturday exuded confidence that a "viable alternative government" will be formed at the Centre after the Lok Sabha election results are declared on May 23.

Addressing a press conference here, Pawar said, "I can't say whether the viable alternative government will come next day of the results or in a fortnight because it is the prerogative of the President of India to invite (parties) to form the next government. But, whoever is called, has to prove majority on the floor of the Lok Sabha."
Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for personally targeting political opponents, Pawar said, "The prime minister should speak with responsibility. I have contested and won 14 elections in my life."
Targeting state Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, Pawar said, "There is a minister in the state government who has never contested an election in his life. But, he is claiming the BJP will win Baramati Lok Sabha seat. When I was asked about the minister's claim, I merely said the situation is not so after having received ground level feedback. If the result is as per the minister's claims, then there would be room for people to doubt EVMs."
On the issue of MNS president Raj Thackeray being asked by the EC to submit expenditure details of his rallies in the state, Pawar said, "During the 1977 general elections after Emergency was lifted, noted personalities like P L Deshpande campaigned against the Congress by holding rallies."