'Orissa journey political tourism'

The Congress today termed Nationalist Congress party (NCP) chief and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s participation in tomorrow’s Third Front rally in Bhubaneswar as a mere ‘political tourism’.

“If somebody wants to go for political tourism to Orissa or anywhere else in the country, we have no issues with that,” said Mohan Prakash, spokesman for Congress’ Maharashtra affairs.The Congress and NCP have worked out a seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra for the coming general elections.

On Wednesday, Pawar caused ripples in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) camp by announcing that he would attend a Third Front rally in Orissa on Friday and share stage with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Left leaders.