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Sangma denies differences among NCP leaders

Talking to reporters in Calcutta, before leaving for New Delhi, Sangma categorically denied a newspaper report in this regard and said it is very unfortunate that a section of the media was trying to create differences among the leadership with some ''ulterior motive''.

''I have no differences at all either with party president Sharad Pawar or Tariq Anwar, nor do they have any differences with any of us at any point of time. I feel the report is totally mischievous,'' he said.

Stating that party would contest about 150 seats all over India, including 24 in West Bengal and the north-east and about 20-odd in Maharashtra, Sangma said he was extremely confident of winning nearly 50 seats to become a major player in the post-poll scenario.

Reiterating his earlier stand that the country would witness yet another hung Parliament and there would be realignment of new forces after the poll, Sangma, however, made it clear his party will maintain equidistance from the BJP and the Congress. However, he said the NCP is not against the Congress as a party, but is against its leadership. ''The Congress is not our enemy. Only its leadership is our enemy.''

To another query, Sangma said since the Congress would not get more than 100 seats in these elections, there was bound to be a major split in the party after the poll which would in turn enable the emergence of a realignment of new forces.

About the party's prospects in the north-east, Sangma said while they are contesting nine seats in Assam, two each in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and one each in Meghalaya and Tripura, besides nine in West Bengal, they were expected to fare ''beyond expectations''. ''Our prospect in West Bengal is very bright, while in Assam the NCP made an electoral alliance with United Minority Front and United Democratic Party in Meghalaya and left them three seats,'' he said.

He also ruled out the possibility of Jyoti Basu as the prime ministerial candidate after the poll.

Sharad Pawar, Anwar and Sangma would launch a joint electoral campaign in West Bengal from September 27 to 29 in various constituencies.

UNI

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