After BJP-Shiv Sena divorce, NCP snaps 15-year alliance with Congress

Mumbai: Hours after BJP ended its 25-year-old alliance with Shiv Sena, NCP too announced that it was parting ways with Congress ahead of Maharashtra Assembly polls.

The state’s ruling allies had been at war over seat-sharing for the polls, that now are a four-cornered battle.

We regret to say that even after being together for a long time,a pragmatic decision was not taken within Cong-NCP: Praful Patel, NCP

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014

Addressing media on Thursday, NCP leader Praful Patel said that, “We had put our point of view in detail before Congress, but they were adamant, Manikrao Thakre always offered 124 seats, we denied.”

He added that the party has decided to contest elections independently, however will not shy away from taking support from 'secular and like-minded parties'. NCP legislature party leader Ajit Pawar is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Governor on Friday to hand over letter of withdrawal of support to government.

Earlier, in the day BJP-Shiv Sena alliance split amid continued deadlock over seat-sharing for the October 15 polls.

After several rounds of talks over the last few days, senior state BJP leaders announced this evening severing of the ties between the two parties, blaming Shiv Sena's "inflexibility" for it.

Will meet Governor of Maharashtra and submit papers regarding new decision, as I'm a leader in legislative council: Ajit Pawar, NCP

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014

Many political groups will join us, and we will declare our new alliance tomorrow:Nawab Malik, NCP on split with Cong pic.twitter.com/E4rjCllVPz

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 25, 2014