NCP chief Sharad Pawar failed to join a BJD-Left-NCP rally in Bhubaneswar on Friday owing to an aircraft "technical" problem, but told the public meeting over phone from Nashik in Maharashtra that he wanted to attend it.

"I would have liked to address the rally but could not because of a technical snag in the aircraft," Pawar, who has been under attack from Congress after it was announced that he would be joining the rally, said over cellphone.

Amidst drama, CPI national secretary D Raja told the joint public meeting that Pawar would address them over phone. Thereafter, NCP state president and cine star Prasanta Nanda held a cellphone near the microphone as Pawar was heard saying that he could not attend the gathering due to a problem in the aircraft that was scheduled to fly him.

Earlier, NCP general secretary and chief spokesperson D P Tripathy said that, "Efforts to arrange another plane was not successful."

Maintaining that Pawar's inability to make it to the rally should not be interpreted "differently", Tripathy said he was present at the joint rally as an NCP representative.

Tripathy said Pawar was scheduled to visit Bhubaneswar either on April 7 or 8 depending on BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's availability. Both the leaders would also address a joint press conference, he said.

Pawar's decision to attend the rally has evoked sharp reactions from ally Congress with some senior party leaders accusing the union minister of betrayal.

Asked if he refused to go to the Third Front rally after Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed her displeasure over his participation in the Third Front rally, the NCP chief said, "Nobody disrespected Congress Party. Congress Party is fully aware."

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