Sena tried to stall Cong-NCP tie-up

Days before the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp-oration (BMC) polls, NCP chief Sharad Pawar revealed to HT that the Shiv Sena was insecure about the Congress-NCP alliance. Ketaki Ghoge reports.

Days before the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corp-oration (BMC) polls, NCP chief Sharad Pawar revealed to HT that the Shiv Sena was insecure about the Congress-NCP alliance and had informally asked him to avoid such a tie-up.

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“There was no formal request from the Sena but in casual conversation in Delhi, I was told about how a potential alliance between Congress and NCP would bring an end to their rule,” said Pawar. He hinted that it was a Sena MP who made this reference suggesting that the NCP should not join hands with Congress in Mumbai.

“In Delhi, all state MPs across political parties come to meet and chat with me, and during one such meeting, it was mentioned that (how) the alliance would spell trouble for them,” Pawar said.

The alliance between the Congress and the NCP has pitted them directly against the saffron combine this time, unlike in the civic polls conducted in 2002 and 2007. A general estimation is that this alliance will ensure there is no division of votes between the alliance partners and thus queer the pitch for the Sena.