Crisis in UPA as Congress allies NC, NCP talk tough ahead of LS polls,Congress-National Conference ties, creating of new administration, Farooq Abdullah, Praful Patel, NC original report, Mushtaq Ganai,congress ,upa ,ncp ,nc ,2014 lok sabha elections ,pra

Crisis in UPA as Congress allies NC, NCP talk tough ahead of LS polls,Congress-National Conference ties, creating of new administration, Farooq Abdullah, Praful Patel, NC original report, Mushtaq Ganai,congress ,upa ,ncp ,nc ,2014 lok sabha elections ,praful patel ,narendra modi ,bjp ,omar abdullah

New Delhi: It is a worrying time for the Congress party as its key allies at the Centre, the National Conference (NC) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), are hinting at parting ways ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. While NCP leader Praful Patel defended BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi saying the 2002 Gujarat riots should be laid to rest, NC leader and Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his party isn't averse to fighting the elections alone.

Praful Patel's statement attempted to distance NCP from the familiar chorus in the Congress that Modi should apologise for the 2002 Gujarat riots. He said, "If the judicial system has given any pronouncement, I think we ought to respect it and we need not question it further."

The immediate alliance issue though is from Omar Abdullah who on Tuesday said his party was seriously reviewing his alliance with the Congress ahead of elections in the state later in 2014. Union Minister and Omar's father Farooq Abdullah backed the remark.

Farooq said, "No decision has been taken yet on whether to fight the Lok Sabha elections alone or not. Whether Narendra Modi wins or loses, the decision will be taken by the people."

It may well be local compulsions that have left the NC looking at options in an election year in the Valley, but clearly it's a pressure tactic that the Congress-led UPA could do without.

The NCP too has sent enough signals that it too is not above weighing its post-poll options. The Congress is trying to play down reports of the UPA breaking up.
Congress leader from Jammu and Kashmir Taj Mohinuddin said, "The apprehensions are unfounded. I don't think there is any reason that the government will fall."

Making matters even more difficult for the UPA are reports that some high profile Congress MPs are looking to either move to the Rajya Sabha or look for a change in the constituency. Cricketer-turned-MP Mohammed Azharuddin is amongst them.
Restive allies, even more anxious MPs, surveys suggesting that the UPA could be heading for a drubbing in the elections have added to the sense of nervousness in the build up to the general elections.

Source: Economic Times, CNN-IBNLive

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