Congress, NCP plan to join hands for council polls

MUMBAI: Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders on Saturday met to discuss the possibilities for an alliance for the ensuing legislative council and

MUMBAI: Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders on Saturday met to discuss the possibilities for an alliance for the ensuing legislative council and civic elections. Though the two parties are discussing the possibility of contesting the elections together, local leaders in many districts are against them joining hands owing to local equations.

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Eleven seats from civic bodies, graduate and teachers’ constituencies of the legislative council will fall vacant in December.

Of them, six are held by the NCP and two by the Congress. In the changed political scenario post the assembly elections in 2014, sources say both parties are likely to witness a major defeat in incumbent constituencies as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to flex its muscle to win more seats.

“The Congress has already announced its two candidates for the Nashik and Amravati graduate constituencies without taking us into confidence. We have expressed our discontent over the decision in the meeting and also have demanded to reconsider the candidature if they really want to join hands with us for other seats. It is true that both the parties can do better only by fighting the civic and council polls together. We had primary discussion on various issues, including the BMC elections, in today’s meeting. The next round will be held soon again,” said a NCP leader.

Congress in-charge of Maharashtra, Mohan Prakash, state chief Ashok Chavan, leader of opposition in the legislative assemblym Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil from Congress and senior party leaders Praful Patel, Ajit Pawar, state chief Sunil Tatkare from the NCP attended the meeting at Worli.