Mumbai, Jan 08: Setting aside contentious issues, the Nationalist Congress Party has indicated its willingness to forge a pre-poll alliance with Congress, its main partner in the Democratic Front government in Maharashtra, to fight the Shiv Sena-BJP saffron combine. "The Gujarat election has given a signal that all secular forces should unite and engage the communal elements in a straight contest. And for this we are ready to keep contentious issues aside", NCP spokesman Prafful Patel told reporters here on Tuesday night.
The NCP spokesman was replying to a question on whether Sharad Pawar-led outfit will put on backburner the foreign origin issue of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in order to join hands with the party. Patel, however, said such an alliance should not be only for Assembly polls and expressed the party`s view that it should be extended to general elections as well.
The NCP leadership began its brainstorming session on Tuesday and continued past midnight. The party conclave slated to conclude on Wednesday was also expected to review the performance of its ministers in the Maharashtra government. Bureau Report