Updated on Wednesday, April 08, 2009, 00:00 IST

Bhubaneswar, April 08: Five days after failing to share a platform with the Left and the BJD, NCP chief Sharad Pawar today exhorted all secular forces to unite, saying that he did not know what would happen after the general elections.

"If we have to keep the country together secular forces have to come together as well," Pawar, flanked by Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri told a joint press conference here.

Pawar who had kept away from the Left-BJD-NCP rally on April 3 citing a technical snag in the aircraft which was to carry him, after the Congress expressed disapproval, said, "What we are doing is a conscious decision."

He explained that the coming together of the NCP with the BJD and the Left was 'Orissa specific'.

"This combination will show a new path both to Orissa and the nation," Yechuri said, adding "we want Naveen Patnaik as the head of the government here."

Yechuri said that their's was not a front, but adjustments of seats among several parties. Recalling that the Left had excellent relations with the late Biju Patnaik in the early 1990s, he said it had been renewed with the BJD.

"We hope that Naveen will be returned as chief minister after the elections and that will be our endeavour."

The chief minister reiterated BJD's support to a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre after polls.

Bureau Report