Pawar won't contest Lok Sabha polls, to take RS route

“There is no need to worry about the Delhi assembly results. Such waves come and go,” he said.

However, he maintained that “people need decisive leaders. People support those who take decisions.” Pawar, who parted ways with Congress in 1999 on foreign origin issue of Sonia Gandhi, is sharing power with her party in Maharashtra for over 14 years and has been a part of the UPA at the Centre since 2004.

When asked about projection of Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate and whether NCP will accept him as the UPA leader, Pawar said naming a candidate for PM's post was not his prerogative. “Every party has the right to decide its leader,” he said.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement that it would be disastrous for the country if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, Pawar said, “I make it a point to use words cautiously when speaking about both my friends and my opponents.”

Later, NCP leader Praful Patel also said that Pawar will not contest Lok Sabha election. “But he will contest Rajya Sabha election to be held after two months,” he said.