NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday claimed that formation of any national alliance was not the topic of discussion at the meeting of eight opposition parties hosted by him earlier this week, but also said that if any such coalition emerges, its leadership will have to be "collective".

The aim of the meeting at his Delhi residence on Tuesday was to discuss how they can support the ongoing farmers'' agitation, he told reporters here. Speculation was rife that the agenda of the meeting, for which no Congress leader was present, was to discuss a possible alliance which could be an alternative to the BJP. "Currently, farmers are protesting on the borders of Delhi. The protest is apolitical, however, we thought as it is related to agriculture, in which way we can support them...The aim was to come together and discuss how we can help the farmers by raising the issues in Parliament and giving suggestions to the Centre," Pawar said.