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Merger only after consulting LDF: Pawar

Special Correspondent

Final decision likely within 10 days

DEHRADUN: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has said a decision on the merger of the Democratic Indira Congress (Karunakaran) with his party in Kerala will be taken only after consultations with the Left Democratic Front (LDF).

At a press conference here on Saturday ahead of the NCP Working Committee meeting, Mr. Pawar said: ``I have been told by DIC(K) leaders that they would like to work with us. In principle, I am in agreement with their thinking. But, we are a part of the LDF in Kerala; so, we have to consult them before taking a final decision.''

The NCP leadership is hopeful of discussing the issue with the LDF constituents in the coming week and arriving at a final decision within the next 10 days. However, Mr. Pawar refused to reveal his mind on what the NCP stance would be should the LDF maintain its pre-Assembly election stance of having no truck with Mr. Karunakaran who was a bitter critic of the Left during his long stint with the Congress. ``That is a hypothetical question,'' was Mr. Pawar's terse reply to repeated questions on his party's course of action in the eventuality of the LDF voting out Mr. Karunakaran's proposal to merge with the NCP and thereby gaining an entry into the coalition, which had shown him the door earlier this year.

However, Mr. Pawar minced no words while responding to questions on how a tie-up with Mr. Karunakaran would affect his relations with the Congress. Dismissing any opposition within the Congress on the proposed move as immaterial, he said the NCP was part of the LDF in Kerala. ``This will not have any impact on our relations with the Congress; DIC(K) is limited to Kerala and only the LDF view is of any concern to us,'' Mr. Pawar said. Though a section of the State unit was opposed to the proposed merger as it could jeopardise NCP's relations with the LDF, the party leadership was apparently keen on taking Mr. Karunakaran on board.

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