Patil issues veiled warning to Congress

Kolhapur, Dec 25 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader R R Patil today gave a veiled warning to the Congress, its alliance partner in the Democratic Front (DF) government, that any rivalry against the party would not be tolerated.

Talking to reporters at Sadale-Madfhale village, Mr Patil, who is also Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, said his party entered into an alliance with Congress and other like-minded parties to keep the communal parties like the BJP-Shiv Sena away from power.

He alleged that in order to woo the electorate, while keeping an eye on the coming elections including municipal corporations and zilla parishads in the state, leaders of some political parties are making baseless statements against him about the Khairlanji, Malegaon blasts incidents, thus misleading the people, which is not correct.

He pointed out that his party was not interested in making any controversial remarks against the Congress and it should also desist from making any such statements.

Mr Patil, who also holds the Home portforlio, said his party has made deep introads in the rural areas and is popular among women and youth. In case the Congress decides to contest any elections, including the civic body, on its own then NCP would have no option but to contest the same on its own strength.

UNI BBK SSS LS RAI2104