Click to play videoPune: Once friends, then foes and now friends again, local leader Suresh Kalmadi and NCP leader and prime ministerial aspirant Sharad Pawar have been sharing the dais frequently during campaigning in Pune.
The no-nonsense chief of the NCP has already registered active participation at four of Kalmadi's rallies in Pune. It's been a definite advantage for the Pune MP.
Professor Suhas Palshikar of the University of Pune says, "There is no doubt that no Congress leader has as much mass base in Maharashtra as the NCP's Pawar. Pawar is one face that can attract crowds here."
Experts say Pawar is filling in for his nephew Ajit, an influential leader in Pune who has stayed away from his known rival Kalmadi. With the fast-changing caste combinations in Pune and worry over rebellion in other seats like Sangli, the Congress is going all out to retain Pune city.
But the Congress denies the uncertainty. Congress leader Gopal Tiwari says, "There is nothing to worry. Ajit Pawar is campaigning in the rest of the state and NCP workers are taking part in the campaign here."
Experts believe Pawar is looking at the long term gains of siding with the Congress.
Palshikar says, "He is doing it keeping in mind the Assembly elections, to enable seat sharing later on."
The seasoned politician in Sharad Pawar is keeping all his options open. It's an experiment that he intends to repeat at the national level.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
