New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party today said the party was against accepting the offer of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray to align with it in Maharashtra, but emphasised that the Congress, too, should not treat its allies as adversaries.

NCP Spokesman D P Tripathi told mediapersons here that the Congress was repeatedly issuing statements that the NCP was riding two horses referring to the understanding reached by the NCP with the Shiv Sena in the mayoral polls in Pune. "While the NCP had done it only once, the Congress had done it in many places." "We want the UPA spirit to prevail and the Congress must take us along," Mr Tripathi said.

The NCP Spokesman said it was but natural that the Shiv Sena would like that the unity in the UPA should break up and hence the offer to the NCP to align with the Shiv Sena, but this was not acceptable to the NCP. The Congress on its part should also see to it that the unity among the UPA allies is maintained, he added.

Mr Tripathi charged that it was the Congress which had started "halla bol(attack)" on the NCP, though the latter always took care to see to it that there was no confrontation between the two allies as far as possible.

Justifying the NCP's alliance with the Shiv Sena in the mayoral polls in Maharashtra, he said being the largest party that emerged in Pune civic elections, NCP had the legitimate claim to have its own mayor there. The party had offered the Deputy Mayor's post to the Congress, but the latter declined it.

"It will be better if the Congress does not harp on the NCP having an understanding with the Shiv Sena in mayoral polls in Pune," Mr Tripathi said.

UNI