Don't push tie-up too far, NCP warns Cong.

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI, MAY 30. Miffed at the manner in which the Congress (I), partner in the Maharashtra Government, continues to hobnob with the BJP and the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has accused it of pushing the alliance ``towards the breaking point.''

The NCP leader, Mr. Chagan Bhujbal said today that if the Congress (I) did not correct its way, ``small incidents would snowball and explode and that is how alliances break up.'' There was more dismay than criticism and an urge to set things in order before they got out of hand.

The Congress (I) had done enough to provoke the NCP's loud disapproval. First, it made common cause with opposition parties, mainly the Shiv Sena, to corner positions in civic and local bodies, notably in Aurangabad and New Mumbai. Then, it ensured a decline in the NCP's voter share in the Legislative Council elections from Sangli and the defeat of its alliance partner's candidate from Ratnagiri and now the two are poised to fight each other for other seats in the Council.

The Congress(I), uncomfortable with the NCP in its bid to chase bigger chunks of the political turf, denies that it had made common cause with the saffron parties. However, the Congress(I) is not averse to admit that the relationship with the NCP is only to run a Government and not to enable each other to grow outside of it. And the two parties continue to blow hot and cold endlessly.

Mr. Bhujbal has pointed out that his party and the Congress(I) had identified the Shiv Sena and the BJP as their ``enemy number 1'' and had tied up with each other to keep them out. But if ``national leaders'' - meaning Mr. A. R. Antulay - call us ``your enemy number 1, what is the point?'' asked Mr. Bhujbal. Alliances are never strong when made in desperation and in Maharashtra, the tie-up between the two is actually tenuous.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, himself somewhat at odds with the MPCC(I) Chief, Mr. Govindrao Adik, is credited with the view that if the NCP and Congress(I) part ways, the ``only alternative was either to change ideologies, which is impossible or contend with sitting in the Opposition.'' This is as much aimed at Mr. Adik who has been directing his ire at the NCP. The NCP leaders too have not been reticent.

Mr. Adik has been insisting that the two parties would not break up but has said that their relationship is limited to running the Government to keep the Sena and BJP out. But the manner in which the political cookie is crumbling outside the Government in the fight for larger political space has made the NCP quite distraught. Mr. Adik pleads helplessness as at no time can he be seen as helping the NCP to grow at his expense.

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