Mumbai: Setting aside contentious issues, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has
indicated its willingness to forge a pre-poll alliance with Congress, its main
partner in DF government in Maharashtra, to fight the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) saffron combine.
"Gujarat election has given a signal that all secular forces should unite and engage
the communal elements in a straight contest. And for this we are ready to keep
contentious issues aside," NCP spokesman Prafful Patel told reporters here on
January 7 night.
The NCP spokesman was replying when asked whether Sharad Pawar-led outfit will put
on backburner the foreign origin issue of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to join
hands with the party.
Patel, however, said such an alliance should not be only for Assembly polls and
expressed party's view that it should be extended to general elections as well.
The NCP leadership began its brainstorming session on January 7 that continued past
midnight. The party conclave slated to conclude on January 8 was also expected to
review performance of its ministers in the Maharashtra government.
PTI
