File photo of NCP chief Sharad Pawar

Right in the middle of the general elections, differences between old partners the Congress and Sharad Pawar 's Nationalist Congress Party or NCP are playing out in the open. Mr Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP, has raised eyebrows by skipping a rally addressed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai yesterday, fueling more speculation on his unwillingness to work under Mr Gandhi.The NCP announced on stage that a snag in his helicopter had prevented Mr Pawar from taking off for Mahad in Raigad district, the venue of Mr Pawar's rally. But the party later said that Mr Pawar did not attend because Mr Gandhi's mother and Congress president Sonia Gandhi could not attend the rally as she suddenly took ill."There is a huge generation gap between the two. Pawar is one of the most experienced leaders in the country. Rahul Gandhi is much younger," an NCP source said.Mr Pawar sent junior leaders in his stead. The NCP chief is one of the senior-most members of the outgoing cabinet and, NCP sources said, he did not want to make a speech ahead the 43-year-old Mr Gandhi.Mr Gandhi, widely seen as the man who will be Prime Minister should the Congress-led UPA alliance return to power, also did not take on in his speech, the Shiv Sena or the Maharashtra Narvnirman Sena, its local rivals headed by the two Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj. This even though in his rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Mr Gandhi has often taken them on their alleged anti-migrant stance.In Mumbai, Mr Gandhi kept his gun resolutely trained on the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi The Congress and the NCP have been partners for 15 years, but the relationship has appeared strained of late with Mr Pawar making several startling statements including the prediction that the BJP is likely to emerge as the single largest party.Mr Pawar, 78, has repeatedly rubbished speculation that he is warming up to the BJP. Earlier this month, he dismissed as "the joke of the year", Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's allegation that he wanted to cross over to the BJP-led alliance.Then, last week, Mr Pawar sharply criticised Mr Modi after the latter said that he enjoyed an "excellent" relationship with the NCP leader.

In Maharashtra, the Congress-NCP combine has traditionally battled the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, which, opinion polls predict, could register a big win in the state in these general elections.Maharashtra sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha and is expected to play a crucial role in determining who will form the government after votes are counted on May 16. ( Elections: full coverage