Bhubaneswar, Apr 3 Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday failed to join a Biju Janata Dal- Left-Nationalist Congress Party rally here.

According to NCP officials, Pawar could not attend the gathering due to a problem with the aircraft that he was due to travel in.

"I would have liked to address the rally, but could not because of a technical snag in the aircraft," Pawar said.

Thereafter, NCP State President 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.

NCP General Secretary and chief spokesperson D. P. Tripathy said efforts to arrange another plane were not successful.

Tripathy said Pawar was scheduled to visit Bhubaneswar either on 7th or 8th April depending on BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's availability.

The polls in Orissa are scheduled to be held in two phases- April 16 and April 23 - to elect 147 members to the State Assembly and 21 members to the Lok Sabha. (ANI)