Saying that the Congress is not providing effective opposition to the BJP, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ''Saamana'' on Saturday said all anti-BJP parties including the Sena should come together under the banner of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Time has come for expanding the UPA, Sena's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut told reporters later in the day. The Congress in Maharashtra, which is part of the Sena-led ruling alliance, however, said the Uddhav Thackeray- led party is not part of the UPA and hence should not comment on it.

"Farmers are protesting on the national capital borders. But the rulers in Delhi are completely indifferent to this agitation. Disintegrated and feeble opposition party is the main reason behind the government's indifference.

Ineffective opposition is leading to this disintegration of democracy," the Saamana said in the editorial. "Instead of blaming the government, the opposition party should introspect. There has to be a mass appeal to the opposition leadership. But on this front, that party is standing on the brink," it said.

"Rahul Gandhi individually is putting up a strong fight, but something is lacking...The present condition of the Congress-led UPA is like an NG0. Even the UPA constituents do not seem to have taken the farmers' protest seriously,' the Marathi daily said.

"NCP chief Sharad Pawar is an independent personality at the national level. In West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee is waging a lonely battle. The country's opposition party should stand by her at this time. Mamata Banerjee has contacted only Pawar and he is going to Bengal. But this should have been done under the leadership of the Congress," it said.