India, Nov. 6 -- Chances of an alliance between two factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the upcoming local body polls have received a boost as office-bearers of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) have told their cadre that they can forge alliances with any party barring the BJP, with which it has ideological differences. Instructions to this effect were issued during the two-day meeting of the NCP (SP) women's wing which concluded on Wednesday, party insiders told Hindustan Times.

"During the meeting, the party's national working president Supriya Sule said decisions on alliances have to be taken by local units. She said that except the BJP, local leaders can forge alliances with all other parties wherever they believe such p...