Congress is not our political rival: NCP leader Sunil Tatkare

MUMBAI: Despite parting ways with the Congress which was the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) ally for 15 years, the NCP said here today that its former partner is not its political adversary.

"Shiv Sena-BJP were our main political rivals. There is no question of considering Congress as our adversary," NCP Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare told reporters here.

Tatkare also rejected allegations from the Congress leadership that there is a hidden pact between his party and the BJP.

"This allegation has been levelled against us since 1999. Despite fighting the 1999 polls separately, NCP preferred to go with the Congress taking initiative to set up the Congress-NCP coalition, which shows its commitment to secularism," he said.

When asked if the same situation would be repeated after next month's Maharashtra assembly polls, Tatkare said, "Let the elections get over and results be declared first".

Tatkare also disapproved former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan's criticism that Ajit Pawar's ambitions cost the 15-year-old alliance.

"Such comments are uncalled for," Tatkare said.