MPCC to discuss ally NCP's criticism of Maha CM, Thakre

The party has condemned the criticism of its leaders by the NCP, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesman Sachin Sawant said, adding Congress did not need a certificate on how to go about its politics from any party.

"Congress is known for its politics based on ideology and secular values unlike some parties which keep Congress engaged in alliance talks, but go ahead with formalising alliance with BJP in zilla parishads," he said without naming the NCP.

He said the recent war of words was started by Home Minister R R Patil who criticised the Congress at a campaign rally for the municipal council elections.

"Our patience should not be seen as our weakness," he said.

NCP supremo and Union minister Sharad Pawar had hit out at Congress wondering why it was in alliance with "criminals" for so many years and NCP state president Madhukar Pichad had said his Congress counterpart Manikrao Thakre does not understand politics.

NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan lacked decision-making ability and slammed him for the "delay" in decision on LPG subsidies.