Addressing a press conference at the circuit house here, Pawar said that he clearly saw a design behind the attacks on the religious institutions of minority community in Gujarat. BJP and its associates like the Bajrang Dal and the VHP have carried out these attacks with a particular intention, he opined.

Referring to sacking of former naval chief admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Pawar said that the Defence Minister and Prime Minister should have handled the issue very delicately. ``Relations between the Ministry of Defence and chiefs of three services have not been so cordial as we think. It would have been more appropriate for the Defence Minister and Prime Minister to handle the issue carefully,'' he said.

When asked whether his party would demand aninquiry into the matter, he said that the party does not wish to stretch the issue of Admiral Bhagwat's sacking beyond a particular limit.

Answering queries about affairs of Governance in the State, he said that a minimum of five years will be required to put the finances of the State back in order. The new Government will have to tread carefully, as nearly Rs 3000 crores out of total allocation for developmental works will have to be paid in the form of interest. ``We are constantly receiving complaints pertaining to expenditure on Maharashtra Krishna Valley Development Corporation,'' he added.

``The present Government seems more to be interested in awarding contracts than generating funds for projects. Credit rating of the State as a whole has fallen down to seventh position. One must remember that earlier Maharashtra topped the rankings in credit ratings,'' he underlined.

On granting statehood to Vidarbha, he said that his party has not taken any particular stand over the issue. ``A committee hasbeen appointed to look into the feasibility of formation of a smaller state. This committee is studying the issue. It will also have to look into the economic viability of the factor, as to whether formation of such a state would be economically feasible,'' he said.

Pawar, however, felt that entry of Independents into Congress was unlikely to affect the majority of the ruling saffron alliance. ``Their leadership will enjoy power till its last moment,'' he remarked in a sarcastic tone.

He further said that Congress was willing to join with both factions of Republican Party of India. ``We will certainly like to join hands will Ramdas Athavale, as well as Prakash Ambedkar. I can also assure you that none of the RPI groups will team up with the Shiv Sena. Even if they do so, the people will not spare them,'' he said.