The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) announced Thursday it was ending its 15-year-old alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra.
"We have decided to chart our independent path along with some secular-minded parties," state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare told the media.
The announcement came shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called off its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena, one of whose leaders told IANS that the BJP had a "secret understanding" with the NCP.
The NCP-Congress divorce came after weeks of bickering over seat-sharing for the Oct 15 assembly elections.
The two parties have shared power for 15 years in Maharashtra (1999-2014) and for 10 years in New Delhi (2004-14).
The NCP has also decided to quit the Congress-led government in the state, reducing the Congress government to a minority in the legislature.
