Mumbai, Oct 11: The Congress in Maharashtra today threatened to snap ties with coalition partner NCP if its president Sharad Pawar does not stop raking up the issue of party chief Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin within a week. Virtually serving an ultimatum on Pawar for raking up the issue while campaigning for his party in Delhi yesterday, MPCC president Ranjit Deshmukh gave him a week's time to reconsider his stand or face dire consequences.

"If Pawar did not change his stand towards the Congress president, a harsh decision will be taken after seven days, including snapping of its relation with NCP in the state,” Deshmukh told a hurriedly convened press conference here.
He said that the Congress stand was taken unanimously by AICC general secretary Vayalar Ravi and other senior state leaders.

Deshmukh, who refused to elaborate on the exact nature of action to be taken, said, "the decision will be taken only after seven days depending on Pawar's response".
Congress will also decide after seven days, whether they want to be a part of the DF government of which NCP is a main coalition partner, he said.

Bureau Report