All Eyes Will Be On Mayawati Ahead Of 2019 Polls: Sharad Pawar

“Mayawati joining hands with the Congress and NCP will change the political landscape ahead of 2019,” Pawar said.

NCP President Sharad Pawar speaks exclusively to The Quint’s Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Vishal Kumar

In an exclusive interview on The Quint’s special show ‘Rajpath’ with Editorial Director Sanjay Pugalia, NCP President Sharad Pawar called BSP Supremo Mayawati the gamechanger for Maharashtra. He believes that Mayawati joining hands with Congress and NCP will change the political landscape ahead of 2019.

I believe in Maharashtra, 2-3 kinds of forces will contest in the polls. One, Congress and NCP will contest together. Left forces will join us. We must also try to take the BSP along. They hold a strong position in Vidarbha and Nagpur. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s party symbol was the elephant. And for voters who believe in Ambedkar’s ideology, they relate to the elephant symbol as Ambedkar’s symbol. BSP uses the elephant symbol too. For the Dalits, Mayawati is someone who has come from a backward class but has succeeded in coming to power on her own. She is someone who has managed to stay in power independently, like Baba Saheb Ambedkar. So she has a special place among voters and has gained their sympathy too. If we succeed in taking BSP along, it will be a great combination.  

Sharad Pawar, NCP President

Sharad Pawar has said that the talks on alliance in Maharashtra are on but there has been no talks with the BSP leadership regarding division of seats.(Graphics: Harsh Sahani)