Why is this question being asked? Sharad Pawar is in a good condition,' he said.

When reminded that Pawar had given an indication ahead of the Lok Sabha elections that he might prefer to go to the Rajya Sabha and not contest the polls, Patel said: 'At present, there is no need to think about 'what after Sharad Pawar?'. Sharad Pawar is active. He is a minister at the centre. Leadership of the party is in his hands.'

On whether the NCP would go it alone in the Maharashtra assembly elections slated this year, he said, 'The Congress and the NCP will contest together because for the last 10 years we are running the government together.'

'Whether in 2004 Lok Sabha elections or the state elections, we have contested together. Again, in 2009 we fought the polls jointly. In the centre we are together and there is no reason why we go different ways,' Patel added.

When pointed out that Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh had hinted his party might go it alone in the state, the NCP leader refused to comment but maintained this was not so.

'As far as our relations with the Congress and our dialogue with them, formally or informally, are concerned, no such indications have been given to us that they would contest on their own.'