I know what the result will be: Sharad Pawar dispels rumours of standing for President

Mumbai: Putting an end to all speculation, Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar on Wednesday clarified that he will not stand for the Presidential elections to be held mid-2022. Rumours had circulated in certain sections of the media after Prashant Kishor met with top Congress leaders in Delhi that Pawar would be the joint Opposition's nominee for the 2022 Presidential elections.

"I know what the result will be, given the party (ruling Bharatiya Janata Party) has more than 300 MPs," the 81-year-old said.

Regarding his meeting with Kishor, Pawar said they had met twice in mid-June in Mumbai and New Delhi regarding his company. "No talks were held regarding the leadership for the 2024 elections or the Presidential polls. He also informed that he has quit the field of devising election strategies for parties," he added.

Pawar said that nothing has been decided about the Lok Sabha polls or Maharashtra assembly polls as the polls are still a long way ahead, and the political scenario keeps changing. "I am not going to assume any leadership for the 2024 elections," he declared.

NCP national spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik also clarified that there was no discussion about the Presidential polls within the party. "However, if someone is circulating such news, then I would like to clarify that its not true," Malik said.