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NCP on brink of split; Sangma decides to align with NDA
New Delhi, Jan 19: NCP tonight was on the brink of a split with its senior leader P A Sangma deciding to align with NDA after the North East People`s Forum (NEPF), of which he is the convener, decided to offer `full support` to NDA in the Lok Sabha elections.
New Delhi, Jan 19: NCP tonight was on the brink of a split with its senior leader P A Sangma deciding to align with NDA after the North East People's Forum (NEPF), of which he is the convener, decided to offer "full support" to NDA in the Lok Sabha elections.
"Under no circumstances I can align with the Congress. I will appeal to Sharad Pawar to change his proposal (of going with that party)," Sangma told reporters in a veiled attack on Sonia Gandhi after a meeting of the forum's executive committee, chaired by Nagaland Chief Minister N Rio.
Replying to a specific question whether there was any scope of he and Pawar staying together, he shot back "how can it be? Pawar has his own compulsions, I have my own."
Asked whether he or Pawar had the majority support in the NCP, Sangma, who had met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last night, smilingly said in his characteristic style, "I don't know how much money I have in my pocket."
Sangma said that he had a talk this morning with Pawar who told him that a meeting involving HM, Pawar and Chhattisgarh NCP leader V C Shukla would be held here on January 24 for "last consultations."
Today's development indicated that Pawar's proposed meeting with sangma could be a mere formality ahead of parting of ways.
Rio told reporters he had been authorised to take up the matter of joining the NDA.
Today's NEPF meeting also "fully supported the consistent political stand" taken by Sangma on the question of aligning with NDA at the national level. "It assured Sangma and his colleagues in the ncp its full and continued support and cooperation," a resolution adopted at the meeting said.
The forum decided to function as a political platform of the constituent political parties in the north-eastern region and Sangma said this understanding among the parties might lead to seat adjustments in the polls.
Besides the chief ministers of Nagaland, Rio, Mizoram Zoramthanga, deputy chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Kameng Dolo, the meeting was attended by leaders of BJP, NCP and some regional outfits.
Asked why AGP was not there at the meeting, Sangma said that its leadership has assured him to take a final decision on the issue at its annual conference in Tejpur later this month.
Sangma's decision to align with NDA came a few days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi had met Pawar and the two parties decided to work together in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections as part of an anti-BJP alliance.
Pawar's meeting with Sonia came a day after his party's working committee unanimously authorised him to take appropriate decisions on the alliance issue.
Earlier, hours ahead of a crucial meeting of the forum for a decision on a tie-up with BJP, NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar met Sangma and requested him not to take any decision "in haste".
Anwar told news agencies that he was still "hopeful and confident” that Sangma would not precipitate the matter and would keep the interests of the party in mind.
Bureau Report
Replying to a specific question whether there was any scope of he and Pawar staying together, he shot back "how can it be? Pawar has his own compulsions, I have my own."
Asked whether he or Pawar had the majority support in the NCP, Sangma, who had met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee last night, smilingly said in his characteristic style, "I don't know how much money I have in my pocket."
Sangma said that he had a talk this morning with Pawar who told him that a meeting involving HM, Pawar and Chhattisgarh NCP leader V C Shukla would be held here on January 24 for "last consultations."
Today's development indicated that Pawar's proposed meeting with sangma could be a mere formality ahead of parting of ways.
Rio told reporters he had been authorised to take up the matter of joining the NDA.
Today's NEPF meeting also "fully supported the consistent political stand" taken by Sangma on the question of aligning with NDA at the national level. "It assured Sangma and his colleagues in the ncp its full and continued support and cooperation," a resolution adopted at the meeting said.
The forum decided to function as a political platform of the constituent political parties in the north-eastern region and Sangma said this understanding among the parties might lead to seat adjustments in the polls.
Besides the chief ministers of Nagaland, Rio, Mizoram Zoramthanga, deputy chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh Kameng Dolo, the meeting was attended by leaders of BJP, NCP and some regional outfits.
Asked why AGP was not there at the meeting, Sangma said that its leadership has assured him to take a final decision on the issue at its annual conference in Tejpur later this month.
Sangma's decision to align with NDA came a few days after Congress president Sonia Gandhi had met Pawar and the two parties decided to work together in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections as part of an anti-BJP alliance.
Pawar's meeting with Sonia came a day after his party's working committee unanimously authorised him to take appropriate decisions on the alliance issue.
Earlier, hours ahead of a crucial meeting of the forum for a decision on a tie-up with BJP, NCP general secretary Tariq Anwar met Sangma and requested him not to take any decision "in haste".
Anwar told news agencies that he was still "hopeful and confident” that Sangma would not precipitate the matter and would keep the interests of the party in mind.
Bureau Report