The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) announced Thursday it was calling off its 15-year-old alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra and pulling out of the Congress-led state government.

"We have decided to chart our independent path along with some secular-minded parties," state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare told the media.

The announcement came shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended its 25-year-old alliance with the Shiv Sena, one of whose leaders told IANS that the BJP had a "secret understanding" with the NCP.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar