NCP Takes U-Turn in Gujarat, Snaps Alliance With Congress

The NCP has called off the alliance after the Congress announced its list of candidates on 19 November.

In a major setback for Congress in the upcoming Gujarat polls, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on 20 November called off its alliance with the Congress. NCP had earlier made an official announcement of its alliance on 18 November.

We had been in talks with Congress for a long time. The environment created by the BJP in Gujarat is not good and we thought we will be stronger if we fought against it together. But the Congress never replied to us officially. Moreover, they have announced candidates at places the NCP already has candidates. We will surely do better by going solo

NCP Leader Praful Patel told ANI

This comes as a second major setback for Congress after the announcement of its list of candidates, as workers of the Hardik Patel led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) clashed with Congress workers over the number of seats on the night of 19 November.

The PAAS had earlier reached a consensus with the Congress over reservation being given to the Patels and decided to side with it. Hardik Patel is expected to make the official announcement on 20 November.

The polling for the two-phase elections in Gujarat will take place on 9 and 14 December and votes will be counted on 18 December.

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