Ahmedabad: Despite suggestions for a secular alliance from Congress, Sharad Pawar- led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on November 1 hinted at making Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin a poll issue in Gujarat even as it asserted that it could field at least 100 candidates for the December 12 hustings.

"Gandhi's foreign origin is the root cause of formation of NCP and therefore this is an election and a major party issue in Gujarat," NCP state unit president Chhabildas Mehta said.

Maintaining that the party is in the "primary stage" of poll preparations, Mehta said it is premature to talk about alliances.

"But we will never support any communal forces," he said, adding as of now the party is likely to field at least 100 candidates, mostly in Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Panchmahals district bordering Madhya Pradesh.

"We are getting several enquiries from individuals and parties who want to contest elections under our symbol but nothing has been decided as yet," he said, adding "NCP will not reveal its candidates till the release of the lists by Congress and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)".

To a question, Mehta, who has been a former Chief Minister, said the NCP manifesto would harp on national and state issues like electricity for farmers and industry, poverty, unemployment and disinvestment.

PTI