NCP president Sharad Pawar said on Friday that a decision on an alliance with the Congress would be taken after each party completes an internal assessment for the Assembly polls in Maharashtra.

He said the NCP, which has not yet got a proposal from the Congress, has begun calling for applications from potential candidates to assess its strength before negotiations can begin, he said. Congress leaders, too, have told him an internal exercise is under way, he said, adding it would be completed in two to four days.

Pawar was speaking to reporters after meeting NCP ministers and office-bearers. He took a dig at Congress leaders who have advocated that each party contest on its own. “A number of well wishers have ample time to give advice to us,” Pawar said. Former Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is among Congress leaders who don’t favour an alliance.

Pawar, who is keen on an alliance, refused to say how many seats he wants for his party. He said they would discuss the numbers with the Congress; revealing them now would upset the Congress. He added that it is necessary to take a decision based on an assessment of the reality.

Pawar said that RPI leader Ramdas Athawale’s move to snap ties with the NCP and join hands with the Third Front would hurt the NCP.q