Mumbai, May 20 (Pti) Reacting to speculation of NCP's possible merger with Congress after Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin issue was put to rest by her refusal to become the prime minister, the NCP today said the party has established its own identity and would not like to loose it by a merger. "The party (NCP) has established its own identity and would like to maintain it further," state NCP spokesman, Vasant Chavan told reporters here.
He congratulated Manmohan Singh on being elected as the prime minister and said NCP would be happy to work with him in the new government.
Criticising BJP leaders' opposition to Gandhi becoming the prime minister, Chavan said," The saffron alliance will have to pay for it in the forthcoming assembly elections in Maharashtra".
To a query, he claimed the Congress-NCP led DF alliance would once again come to power in the state.
Bureau Report