Mumbai: Declaring that defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the main aim, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday said it would form an alliance with the Congress in 2019. Both the parties had severed their alliance in 2014 and were reduced to less than 50 MLAs in the 288-member state Assembly.

State NCP chief Sunil Tatkare, speaking at the party’s two-day conclave that began in Karjat on Monday, said the Congress was not their enemy.

“Congress is not our enemy. We will have to work with open mind now. Defeating BJP will be our aim,” he said.

The Karjat conclave is being held to plot the NCP’s future course of action.

“We have been saying from day one. But still there are forces that want to create a suspicion about us. But from this convention, a clear message should be sent out that NCP will not sit with communal parties,” Mr Tatkare said in his speech.

Senior leader Jayant Patil who spoke on economical issues also underlined the political message. “Party workers should expose BJP governments at state and Centre on the economy front. There is anger among common public over the mismanagement of the economy. We should raise these issues to dethrone BJP,” Mr Patil said.

Recently, NCP leaders were seen sharing the stage with BJP leaders including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been indicative of NCP-BJP closeness. The NCP had given unconditional support to the BJP in 2014 to form the state government in Maharashtra.

Since then questions have been raised in political circles about the NCP’s stand. On Monday, the NCP leadership used the conclave to clear the air and give direction to the party organisation.