Talking to newsmen in a `Meet the Press' programme sponsored by the Nagpur Union of Working Journalists (NUWJ), Tirpude pointed out that the NCP had recently made it clear that it had not given up the issue of Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin. Tirpude reminded that the issue had led to a split in the century-old party a few months ago.

According to him, the Congress had made a ``blunder'' by striking an alliance to form a coalition government with the help of the NCP. He said that it was obviously more Pawar's show than that of the Congress.

This was evident from the bagging of the Speaker's post by the NCP and the removal of Pawar-baiters from the Vilasrao Deshmukh Cabinet. "It is all the way Pawar's show in the presentGovernment and we are helplessly watching it," he said and added that the Maratha leader had succeeded in his gameplan of cutting the Congress to size in the State.

"I told party chief Soniaji not to forge such an alliance with the NCP after the election results were announced. While warning her about it, I specifically reminded her about the fate of the alliance government of the then Congress (Reddy) and the Congress in 1978. Initially, she agreed with my views. However, Soniaji has given her consent for the alliance when she was advised so by the AICC functionaries," he said.

Tirpude blamed the AICC general secretary and in-charge of Maharashtra, Madhavrao Scindia, for the mess. "This man should be removed from the post immediately so that further damage to the party can be prevented in the State," he said.

He also criticised the ``advisors'' of the party president for ``creating a mess'' in other states like Haryana and Goa.

Tirpude lashed out at the leadership for ``wrong''distribution of tickets in the just-concluded elections. Several ``dummy'' candidates were fielded by these leaders to facilitate smooth-sailing for the NCP nominees in several constituencies, he alleged.

He also took strong exception to the removal of Satish Chaturvedi from the Ministry. Chaturvedi was dropped at the behest of Pawar, as he was very vocal against the Maratha leader, Tirpude said.

Tirpude is likely to meet the party chief soon to apprise her of the present developments and reiterate breaking off the alliance with the NCP.