NCP had earlier announced that it would keep the ruling BJP and Congress led by Sonia Gandhi at equidistance. NCP president Sharad Pawar ruled out possibility of any alliance with the BJP or the Congress party especially when there has been criticisim about his deal with the BJP.

Pawar baiters were at the forefront to open a tirade against the Maharashtra strongman for entering into an understanding with the BJP to achieve his political ambitions. Infact, they had alleged that Pawar had challenged the credentials of Sonia Gandhi being foreign born to become prime minister when the BJP had decided to tone it down its vicious campaign in this regard.

Pawar also ridiculed the ShivSena which sees Pawar as the real threat in the wake of split in the Congress party. The Sena is also worried over a possible exhodus of youths towards Pawar.

The Maratha strongman said he did not take the Shiv sena seriously. He contested the Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's claim that the NCP would not win more than five seats and said "the reality will be known only after elections."

Pawar and NCP national general secretary PA Sangma told reporters that NCP would be the party of the 21st century with an emphasis on decentralisation of power and involvement of downtrodden, women, minorities, SC/STs, backward and other backward classes and youths in the decision-making process. NCP would also bridge the gap between the politicians and people and involving inputs from professionals, intelligensia, youths and students would top the agenda.

Pawar said rising population and unemployment would be some of the key issues to be taken up by the new party. Sangma said NCP would also look into the burgeoning problemof employability of educated youths and poverty. "Our party will be totally democratic and secular with an outlook for the 21st century," the duo reiterated.

On the economic front, Pawar who has been an ardent supporter of opening of economy, said his party would be in favour of continuance of the liberalisation policies. "However, if it adversely affects the common man, state intervention will not be ruled out," he added.

Sangma said the draft constitution of the NCP proposes setting up of a policy research council, which would be the think-tank of the party. These councils would help gather responses from the party workers.

The council would submit its research work to the specialised commissions for youth, women, SC/SY/OBCs, minorities, disabled and senior citizens. The specialised commissions would then formulate the party's policies in this regard.

Sangma said NCP's working committee, which will be constituted at the first national convention here on June ten will hold its first meeting in Delhion June 14 to chalk out its political and election strategies as well as the policies.

The issue of having poll alliances with other like-minded parties would be discussed at NCP's working committee meeting, Pawar said.

Pawar also introduced Praful Patel, Congress member of the dissolved 12th lok sabha, who has joined NCP. He said Patel and Devendra Dwivedi, who also joined NCP recently, would be party spokespersons.