Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Monday downplayed his recent remarks on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins and proposed a pre-poll alliance with the party both in assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

"It was a casual remark...I had not taken Sonia Gandhi's name. You don't talk everything serious in public meetings...some jokes and lighter things are also necessary," Pawar told reporters.

Speaking at a rally in New Delhi last week, Pawar had made fun of the Congress for 'importing' leaders.
 
His remarks created a furore in the Maharashtra Congress with several leaders demanding an apology from Pawar.

Also see: Congress issues 'ultimatum' to Pawar

On Monday, Pawar declined to commit anything on whether he would be willing to join a government at the Centre led by Sonia Gandhi.

The NCP chief said he visualised either a Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA government or a non-Congress-non-BJP third front government at the Centre. "I will be happy if the type of situation as witnessed in 1996 arises" when neither the Congress nor the BJP could form a government.

He said the voters' verdict in the assembly elections in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Mizoram would indicate which way the wind is blowing.

Asked if leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Jayalalithaa would be a part of the third front, Pawar declined to comment.