Vidarbha, Apr. 10 : UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and NCP President Sharad Pawar on Friday shared the stage in Vidarbha indicating that despite opposing each other in almost all states, the Congress and the NCP bond will remain strong in Maharashtra.

"We will not let communal poison seep in the soil of Vidarbha. We don't want communal forces to lead Indian and in that direction we have tied up with the NCP, a secular political party," Gandhi said while addressing the rally in Gondiya.

Mentioning the names of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatama Gandhi, she pointed out that the Congress was committed to the development of India.

"Our fight is that of ideology," Sonia said, adding that the Congress was like an umbrella, sheltering all religions.

Addressing the rally in parched Vidarbha, Gandhi said that the UPA had taken the responsibility of resolving farmer issues in the country and had waivered 71000 crore rupees worth of loans to them.

Interestingly, when Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that Manmohan Singh would be the Prime Minister of India after elections, Pawar, who is harboring prime ministerial ambitions, maintained a studied silence.

Patel is contesting the Bhandara-Gondia constituency.

Gandhi is scheduled to address three more election rallies for Congress candidates in Chandrapur, Yavatmal and Ramtek parliamentary seats. (ANI)