Gujarat polls: `Cong didn`t honour alliance with NCP`

Anand: Union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel on Thursday accused Congress of not honouring the alliance with NCP in Gujarat polls.

"NCP decided on contesting the elections in Gujarat with Congress but it`s unfortunate that they have not fully honoured the alliance," Patel told reporters here. "It was the responsibility of Congress to honour the alliance on seat-sharing but unfortunately they have not done so. We aligned with them in the last election and in this election also as we wanted a secular government to be formed in Gujarat," he said. "The decision of alliance was taken to avoid division of votes," Patel said. Congress and NCP had agreed on a seat-sharing agreement for nine seats. However, on the last day of filing of nomination forms, Congress fielded its candidates in four seats, leaving just five for NCP. NCP then went on to field candidates in 12 seats stating it would contest election in alliance with Congress in five constituencies and would fight independently in seven other seats. Gujarat goes to polls on December 13 and 17, and the counting of votes will take place on December 20. PTI