Talking to Congress on Gujarat pact: NCP

MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party has started back channel talks with Congress leaders for forming an alliance to take on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat, an NCP leader has said.

“Talks have started with the Congress leaders a few days back as leaders from both the parties feel that the BJP is at its weakest now and if we mount a joint challenge it could be defeated,” said an NCP leader from Maharashtra.

“Congress leaders are aware that even a difference of 3-4 % of vote share could change the results of the elections,” the person said. Things will become clearer in the next few days, the NCP leader said.

The development is interesting after the recent acrimonious Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat where Congress leader Ahmed Patel almost failed to get elected due to at least one NCP MLA voting for BJP. A senior Congress leader, however, almost ruled out any tieup with NCP.