Back‘Hidden agenda’ behind NCP snaping ties: Congress
Cannot comment on the possibilities of post-poll alliance as we are in the midst of an election, says Congress spokesperson
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New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday suspected a “hidden agenda" behind Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) parting ways with it in Maharashtra, a day after former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan accused his former alliance partner of having a pre-meditated plan to topple the state government.
At the same time, party spokesperson Anand Sharma steered clear of questions about the possibility of any post-poll tie-up with NCP, its 15-year-old ally which walked out of United Progressive Alliance a few days back ahead of assembly elections in the state.
“Right now Congress is contesting elections on its own. We are hoping that in the elections, the arrogance of BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its leaders is brought down a few notches and their arrogance is punctured," he said.
Pressed further on the possibility of future tie-up between the two parties, he said, “Today we cannot comment on the possibilities as we are in the midst of an election. Nothing can be discounted." But, he said that “NCP has let us down" and suggested a “hidden agenda" behind the walk out by Sharad Pawar’s party.
“We do not know what is the hidden agenda," he said, questioning “whether candidates have not been put up in some places against some non-secular leaders". Chavan had on Tuesdya claimed that the Centre imposed President’s rule in the state even after the overnor had asked him to continue as the caretaker chief minister.
Party president Sonia Gandhi had also said in Jammu that the reason for it (severing of ties) “was not us, not me, not Rahul (Gandhi), not Congress" when asked about Pawar’s reported remarks that Congress was responsible for the alliance break up.
Meanwhile, BJP said it has no tacit understanding with NCP for upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections and “denounced" the “perception" being created in this regard.
“A perception was deliberately created by quarters as if there is some tacit understanding between BJP and NCP. We clearly denounce this," information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters.
He said there is nothing of the kind and that it was BJP which fought against the alleged corruption by NCP ministers in the past many years.
“In the last 10-15 years, it was BJP which fought vehemently against the corruption of NCP ministers," he said.
Soon after BJP’s snapping ties with its 25-year-old ally Shiv Sena over seat-sharing in Maharashtra polls, NCP also announced break-up of its ties with Congress with whom it had shared power in Maharashtra for the last 15 years.
Congress and Shiv Sena accused NCP of hobnobbing with BJP.
Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are contesting the polls alone. BJP is also contesting alone in 257 seats and left 31 seats for its smaller alliance partners.
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