Kolhapur/Satara/IBNS: Unprecedented differences seem to have cropped up between Nationalist Congress Party and Congress following NCP chief Sharad Pawar's direct attack on Congress leader and former state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at a press conference on Tuesday.

At the press conference in Satara, Pawar while replying to Chavan's criticism of NCP, sought to know his present status in the Congress, and whether he belonged to A, B or C category in his party.

Pawar also quipped that if a Congressman was questioned about Chavan's category he would prefer to disclose that in private and not in public.

Chavan in his statement had said that NCP was in talks with the BJP and there was uncertainty as to how long it would remain with the Congress. He also pointed out that NCP was contesting the Karnataka Assembly polls against the Congress.

While replying to Pawar's criticism, Chavan said Pawar was a big leader, and as a father figure, he was well within his rights to express his feelings.

Meanwhile, Congress state president Nana Patole said Chavan was the number one leader in the state party and had been fighting all out against BJP's attitude.

Patole said he was proud that Chavan "is our leader".

[With UNI inputs]