NEW DELHI: Congress allies and supporting Left parties at the Centre have sharply criticised the decision of the Nationalist Congress Party to support industrialist Rahul Bajaj, the Independent candidate backed by Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena for the Rajya Sabha by-election from Maharashtra.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal questioned the move and said the decision of the NCP would send a wrong message since the United Progressive Alliance came into being to keep the BJP out of power.

"The formation of UPA was to keep Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party out of power. It was this reason that brought political parties together. NCP joining hands with Shiv Sena-BJP has given a wrong message. It is against the spirit of UPA coalition," RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad told correspondents.

He said the decision of the NCP raises a question of "credibility" of the UPA coalition. Mr. Prasad said he would ask the NCP chief to review the decision. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) had criticised the decision on Monday while the CPI said on Tuesday the NCP move was a "disturbing" development.

`Supporting business house'

Party national secretary D. Raja said irrespective of what was being said the fact would be that an industrialist was getting the support of the NCP, the Shiv Sena and the BJP. "It is disturbing that all these political forces are supporting a big business house."

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