Uddhav met me a few days ago: Sharad Pawar

In a surprising political development, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Mumbai a few days ago.

This seems to be the Shiv Sena's plan to rub shoulders with anti-Narendra Modi forces as a few days ago he had called on West Bengal chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee.

The Uddhav-Pawar meeting was under the wraps for nearly 10 days - but the NCP president himself disclosed it at the end of the two-day brain stroming session of his party at Karjat in Raigad district.

"A few days ago, Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut met me," Pawar said disclosing about the meeting that took place at his Silver Oak residence in Mumbai.

However, Shiv Sena has, so far, maintained silence about the meeting.
The meeting comes at a time when the relations of the BJP and Shiv Sena - who are oldest allies - are at a new low. Sena is part of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and together run the government in Maharashtra.

Pawar admitted that Uddhav seems not happy with the BJP, however, has not said anything about coming out of the alliance. To a question, he said that the NCP would go with like-minded parties.  

Last week, Uddhav had met West Bengal Chief Minister and All India Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee in which both are learnt to have discussed important political issues.

On Monday, NCP general secretary Praful Patel has said that Pawar could be the next prime minister. Given the current political situation, he (Pawar) could be the prime minister after the (2019) polls….his desire could be fulfilled, 2019 would be the year of NCP and Sharad Pawar..it is the wish of all of us," the former civil aviation minister said at the conclave.