V C Shukla meets PM for tie-up with BJP

Within days of senior Nationalist Congress Party leader P A Sangma meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to discuss an election tie-up, another party leader, V C Shukla, called on the PM on Saturday.

Shukla is understood to have discussed with Vajpayee the possibility of poll adjustments with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chhattisgarh.

Also Read Problems with Sangma will be sorted: Pawar

Shukla later told reporters that NCP chief Sharad Pawar has sought a meeting with him and Sangma to sort out the differences over poll alliances.

While Pawar is well on his way to strike an understanding with the Congress, Sangma and Shukla want the NCP to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance coalition.

Sangma has said Saturday's meeting with Pawar will be the last consultation.

While appreciating that Pawar has his own compulsions in Maharashtra, Sangma said that he too had his own in the northeast.

The North East People's Forum, of which Sangma is the convenor, has decided to join hands with the NDA.