Breaking the MVA alliance code, the NCP joined hands with rival BJP to elect the president of the Gondia Zilla Parishad in Maharashtra on Tuesday, keeping the Congress away from power with the backing of Independents and a local outfit.

In neighbouring Bhandara, five rebel members of the BJP led by former MLA Charan Waghmare joined hands with Congress to elect the party candidate as the president of the ZP. A BJP member was elected as the vice president of the Zilla Parishad in Bhandara.