Pawar to file papers for Rajya Sabha

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar will file his nomination papers on Friday for the Rajya Sabha elections, signalling an end to 47 years in direct electoral politics.

However, the party still feels that Pawar could be a strong candidate for the post of the prime minister after the 2014 elections “if circumstances are favourable”.

Pawar has spoken on several occasions about an unblemished record of not losing a single election he has contested since his political debut in 1967.

The 73-year-old leader has been toying with the idea of retiring from electoral politics for quite some time as he does not see an active role for himself with Congress preparing to welcome Rahul Gandhi.

Pawar had vacated his traditional seat – Baramati – in favour of his daughter Supriya Sule in the 2009 elections but entered the fray from Madha on insistence of party workers.

The Maratha strongman appears to have had his way this time round by declaring his candidacy for the Rajya Sabha in the February 7 elections. The other NCP candidate will be noted criminal lawyer and party national secretary Majid Memon.