Anwar rules out NCPs' merger with any other party

Nagpur, Jan 27 (UNI) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) General Secretary Tariq Anwar has ruled out his party's merger with any other political outfit, saying, today it was the fastest growing political party in the country Speaking to reporters here today, Mr Anwar dismissed as 'baseless' reports that the NCP may merge with the Congress.

''Why should we do it? After all, we have established our identity and have expanded all over the country,'' Mr Anwar said.

The NCP is now a national party with legislators in 18 states, he said.

A word of praise from NCP chief Sharad Pawar for Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not mean that a merger was on the cards, said Anwar.

''We were never and are not personally against Ms Gandhi, but it is not necessary that we should agree with everything that the Congress does,'' he said, adding the NCP was opposed to the Congress party's style of functioning.

Mr Anwar was on a campaign tour for the February 1 civic elections in the city.

UNI