'Hidden agenda' behind NCP snaping ties: Congress

New Delhi, Oct 1: Congress on Wednesday suspected a "hidden agenda" behind NCP parting ways with it in Maharashtra, a day after Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan accused his former alliance partner of having a pre-meditated plan to topple the state government.

At the same time, party spokesperson Anand Sharma steered clear of questions about the possibility of any post-poll tie-up with NCP, its 15-year-old ally which walked out of UPA a few days back ahead of Assembly elections in the state.

"Right now Congress is contesting elections on its own. We are hoping that in the elections, the arrogance of BJP and its leaders is brought down a few notches and their arrogance is punctured," he said.

Pressed further on the possibility of future tie-up between the two parties, he said, "Today we cannot comment on the possibilities as we are in the midst of an election. Nothing can be discounted."

But, he said that "NCP has let us down" and suggested a "hidden agenda" behind the walk out by Sharad Pawar's party.

"We do not know what is the hidden agenda," he said, questioning "whether candidates have not been put up in some places against some non-secular leaders".

Chavan had yesterday claimed that the Centre imposed President's rule in the state even after the Governor had asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister.

Party President Sonia Gandhi had also said in Jammu that the reason for it (severing of ties) "was not us, not me, not Rahul (Gandhi), not Congress" when asked about Pawar's reported remarks that Congress was responsible for the alliance break up.

PTI