"NCP decided on contesting the elections in Gujarat with Congress but it's unfortunate that they have not fully honoured the alliance," Patel told reporters here.
"It was the responsibility of Congress to honour the alliance on seat-sharing but unfortunately they have not done so. We aligned with them in the last election and in this election also as we wanted a secular government to be formed in Gujarat," he said.
"The decision of alliance was taken to avoid division of votes," Patel said.
Congress and NCP had agreed on a seat-sharing agreement for nine seats. However, on the last day of filing of nomination forms, Congress fielded its candidates in four seats, leaving just five for NCP.
NCP then went on to field candidates in 12 seats stating it would contest election in alliance with Congress in five constituencies and would fight independently in seven other seats.
Gujarat goes to polls on December 13 and 17, and the counting of votes will take place on December 20.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
