Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan claims NCP looking for a share of power at BJP-led Centre

The Congress on Thursday charged the NCP of breaking the alliance with the party on account of the chief ministerial ambitions of Ajit Pawar and accused it of seeking to share power at the Centre with the BJP.

Shortly after the NCP announced its decision to contest next month's assembly elections on its own, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan told a news conference that it was a strange coincidence that the NCP made its announcement so soon after the BJP declared its split with the Shiv Sena.

Chavan said it was the first time in the 15 years of the alliance that the NCP put forward the proposal to share the post of chief minister for 30 months, that too at the eleventh hour.

Before the news conference, Chavan met with Congress state president Manikrao Thakre for about an hour to discuss the situation.

Chavan accused the NCP of having an understanding with the BJP, saying, "Like today's there will be a series of events and you should look out as the NCP has been looking to share in power at the Center since there was a change of guard in Delhi," he said.

Responding to the criticism by Ajit Pawar on the absence of a dialogue, Chavan said, "Both the parties were part of a co-ordination meeting last month and I have always taken decisions in the larger public interest. In the process, vested interests are bound to be affected and that is why I have been criticised," he said.

Chavan said the NCP started the talks setting pre-conditions, that too seeking to increasing its quota of seats by 30 without any logic. "Only ambition for the chief minister's post is behind this illogical demand," he said.

Replying to a question, he said the Congress was in talks with the Samajwadi Party for the October 15 poll.