NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday announced that he may contest the forthcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on its own but will ensure that it does not take any steps to harm the prospects of the Congress to the advantage of the ruling BJP in these poll bound States.

Pawar announced this after sharing the platform with Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the Congress called Bharat Bandh to protest rising fuel price.

Pawar said that the party was contemplating to contest Rajasthan on its own for long as the party feels that it is strong in this agricultural State. The former Union Minister during the Manmohan Singh Government also announced the joining of former Congress leader Umed Singh Champawat whom he appointed as the Rajathan State unit NCP chief. Champawat has been a former legislator and had once taken on BJP stalwart late Bhairon Singh Shekhwat in Bali which he lost by a whisker.

Pawar said that joining of Champawat who is an old hand in the State will certainly boost the party's prospect in Rajasthan and will certainly help Opposition Congress to seal a good number in formation of the next Government.

"Ruling BJP is in bad shape in the State and Congress has a good chance there. We will add on to their prospect and contesting elections does not mean to dent Congress votes. We will contest on seats where BJP has been and is strong for years and thus add on Congress numbers for the assembly polls. We will certainly look for an alliance and even if there is not any, NCP will contest those seats where it will feel either the seats are worthy or the candidates are winnable," Pawar said flanked by party General Secretary Praful Patel and Champawat at a Press conference in his Delhi residence.

On a question whether the Rajasthan model will be replicated in MP and Chhatigarh as well, Pawar said we have already contest there in past and the party have strong states' units in these regions. "We will only help Congress and in a large way consolidation of the Opposition against the Modi regime which has failed in all fronts," he said.