123Pune.com

PUNE: Ignoring an indirect suggestion made by city Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi about forging a tie-up between the Congress and the NCP in the Pune Municipal Corporation, Union agriculture minister and president of the Nationalist Congress Party Sharad Pawar on Sunday refrained from making any comments on the 'Pune pattern' which is on the boil.

Kalmadi's suggestion came in a day after Pawar on Saturday had said that local leaders of the NCP and the BJP would decide on the Pune pattern in which the two parties have come together along with the Shiv Sena to keep the Congress out of power at the PMC.

Kalmadi, who shared the dais with Pawar at a function to initiate the tree plantation drive for the proposed forest park at Pachgaon Parvati, said the Congress was always ready to tie up with the NCP for the city's development. He said that while the NCP is sharing power with the Congress at the Centre as well as the state, the same "pattern'' should be followed in Pune.

Kalmadi observed that although Pawar had said that local leaders would take a decision on the Pune pattern, he (Pawar) should give political advice to the local leaders, indirectly suggesting that the NCP and the Congress should join hands at the PMC. However, Pawar, in his speech, ignored Kalmadi's suggestion and said that it (the dais) was not a forum to discuss political issues.
Earlier, state minister for forests, Babanrao Pachpute, who incidentally belongs to the NCP, had also supported

Kalmadi and said that it would be nice to have an alliance with the Congress at the PMC.

Expressing concern over the delay in rains in Maharashtra, Pawar said that he was constantly monitoring the situation and getting views from weather experts about the possibility of rains.

Among others present at the function included Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale, municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi, MLA Ramesh Bagwe and MLC Mohan Joshi.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Kalmadi_proposes_Pawar_keeps_mum...