Tuesday, June 6 2006 17:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Congress in Maharashtra today (June 6, 2006) accused NCP, its partner in ruling Democratic Government in the state,of not adhering to the coalition ideology by supporting industrialist Rahul Bajaj in the June 15 Rajya Sabha election.

"NCP cannot keep the coalition in abeyance. We are hopeful that it will withdraw support to Bajaj and support Congress candidate Avinash Pande," MPCC spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam told reporters here.

"They are supporting a person who is the anti-quota face in the country and is also against interests of OBCs," Nirupam said.

"As a member of the Secular Forum along with Congress, NCP is not expected to have any sort of ties with Shiv Sena-BJP," he said, referring to Bajaj's candidature being supported by NCP, Sena and BJP, which together have the numerical strength in the 288-member state assembly to ensure Bajaj's victory.

"NCP had earlier announced that it would support Congress candidate but it reneged on the promise," Nirupam said.