Final picture of alliance will be clear in a month: Chavan

Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said Thursday that final contours of the proposed 'grand alliance' of opposition in the state will emerge within a month.

The next meeting of the Congress and NCP leaders to discuss alliance will be held on October 12, Chavan told PTI from Faizpur in Jalgaon district of the state over phone.

"We are keen to take Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, with us and talks are on," he said, adding that the issue of Ambedkar's insistence to include the AIMIM in the alliance will be resolved after talks.

While Ambedkar's Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen have announced a tie-up, the Congress is reportedly reluctant to join hands with the AIMIM.

"I just want to tell everyone that we should not do anything that will help the BJP," Chavan said. "Final picture of the grand alliance will emerge in a month's time," he added.

The Congress has already held talks with independent MP Raju Shetti, Loktantrik Janata Dal's Kapil Patil and leaders of the Left parties.

The decision about taking along the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will be taken by the Congress high command in Delhi, Chavan said.

Earlier in the day, Chavan, who is leading the state Congress's 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' campaign at Faizpur, lashed out at the NDA government for use of force against agitating farmers who wanted to enter Delhi on October 2.

Addressing a gathering, Chavan said, "At least spare farmers on Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. What was the need to use force against them? The true colours of the Central government have been now exposed."