NCP boycotts Opposition meeting called by Sonia Gandhi

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], August 11 (ANI): The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday skipped a meeting of Opposition parties called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi after the Congress suggested that the former had betrayed it in the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat. The reason, sources say, might be the NCP being miffed with the Congress after it expressed doubt over its integrity. There were reports that two MLAs of the NCP in Gujarat might have voted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and not for Congress candidate Ahmed Patel in the Rajya Sabha elections. The joint Opposition meet was called to discuss unity and chalk out a strategy against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government. Meanwhile, with Ahmed Patel emerging victorious in the Gujarat Rajya Sabha polls, the NCP on Wednesday reminded the Congress that this triumph happened because of their help, and the grand old party must remember this in the future. "This was indeed a nail-biting finish, his (Ahmed Patel) own MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) ditched him. Now, the Congress must remember this in future, reciprocate it and treat us like a younger brother," NCP senior leader Majeed Memon told ANI. After the intense political developments and the Election Commission (EC) declaring two votes invalid, Ahmed Patel was able to retain his Rajya Sabha seat. Total 176 MLAs voted in the crucial elections, but two votes were declared invalid. The EC on late Tuesday night declared votes of two Congress MLAs - Bhola Bhai Gohil and Raghav Bhai Patel - invalid. The decision was taken on a complaint of the Congress. (ANI)