Addressing a crowded press conference which included a large number of NCP workers who had come to wish State NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal on the occasion of his 52nd birthday, Pawar said that a final decision to tie-up with the Congress in forming the Government was yet to be taken as some issues have to be settled. He said that this morning, the State NCP received a letter from the Congress, but refused to disclose the contents of the letter. Pawar added that the NCP would express its views on the contents in writing this evening. Pawar further stated that there was no meeting with the Congress as yet.

When asked about NCP leader P A Sangma's statement that the NCP should in no way tie-up with the Congress in Maharashtra, Pawar said that the ground level situation in Maharashtrahad been explained to Sangma. He added that Sangma was right in so far as the situation in his state went, but Pawar had explained to him that the situation in Maharashtra was different and it was necessary that the NCP tie-up with the Congress.

When asked about CLP leader Vilasrao Deshmukh's statement to Governor Dr P C Alexander that the NCP had agreed in principle to support the Congress, Pawar said that he agreed with Deshmukh, but a confirmation on supporting the Congress or not would only come if some pending issues were resolved. He said that if this partnership did not work, the NCP would sit in the Opposition, as the party was used to this position. Pawar explained that the party's main aim was to provide a stable government and work towards the upliftment of the lower classes. He further stated that initially, the Congress approach towards the NCP was that of a big brother, but he was hopeful that a solution would be worked out very soon.

Asked about his reaction to Congress leader PratapraoBhosale's statement on Doordarshan on Thursday that the Congress had accepted the demands made by the NCP, he said that the statement was made very cleverly, but the actual facts were different. Without naming the BJP-Sena, Pawar stated that his party was not ready to associate itself with any other party.