India, Feb. 23 -- Even as the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was all set to corner the Mahayuti government in the budget session on issues such as graft cases and law and order, the rift within its constituents came to the fore on the eve of the session, which begins today. The NCP (SP) failed to turn up for a major meeting, leaving the MVA red-faced.

While the party reportedly boycotted the meeting because it was irked at its alliance partners' statements on the Rajya Sabha polls, the MVA claimed it was due to a "communication gap" and explained that while some NCP (SP) leaders were away, others were delayed due to work.

The meeting on Sunday was followed by a press conference at the Sena (UBT) office in Nariman Point. After boycot...