Cong workers want to sever ties with NCP

A large number of Congress party functionaries made a strong pitch for severing links with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to independently fight the next Parliamentary and assembly elections. Party functionaries gathered at a meeting convened by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee here on Wednesday also appealed to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and state party chief Manikrao Thakre not to succumb to NCP's pressure tactics and threats but gear up preparations for a solo fight. However, the decision has been left to the party high command.

Today's meeting took place three days after NCP chief Sharad Pawar held close-door deliberations with party ministers to prepare a road map for the ensuing elections. Pawar and NCP leader and Union Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel had already indicated the NCP might go alone if the Congress takes it for granted.

The Congress is heading the coalition government with NCP since 1999.