Congress fumes as NCP ousts Deshmukh with BJP's help

A bitter Congress today said that prospects of electoral understanding with NCP in future was now a remote possibility with the ouster of Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Shivajirao Deshmukh.
NCP's no-confidence motion against Deshmukh, a veteran Congressman, today was passed in the upper house as it got the crucial votes of the ruling BJP.
Congress leader Manikrao Thakre said his party would never comprise on its secular ideology, and as NCP was now moving closer to BJP, any alliance with NCP was a remote possibility.
"If there is to be an alliance, both parties need to talk," Thakre said, when asked if Congress would enter into alliance with NCP for the upcoming local body polls.

To a question on revenue minister Eknath Khadse's statement that BJP supported the no-confidence motion to further its "Congress-free" agenda, Thakre said passage of the motion had in fact strengthened Congress's ideology.
Notice for no-confidence motion had been submitted much before NCP raised a hue and cry over the Leader of Opposition's post during the winter session, he said.

"Hence NCP's allegation that Deshmukh was not impartial on the issue of Leader of Opposition (in Council) is not true," he said.
When state Congress chief Ashok Chavan asked NCP leaders to settle for a compromise where NCP could get Chairman's post while Congress, being the second largest group, could get the Deputy Chairman's post, the Sharad Pawar-led party rejected the proposal, Thakre said.

"Which shows it was already hand in glove with BJP," he said.
Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said political realignment would become more clear during the election for Deshmukh's successor.