NCP to take on Senas' Marathi manoos agenda

Keen on building a stronger vote bank in the city, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has said that part of its strategy for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls is to take on the "parochial" and regional Marathi manoos agenda of the Shiv Sena and the MNS. Ketaki Ghoge reports.

Keen on building a stronger vote bank in the city, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has said that part of its strategy for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls is to take on the "parochial" and regional Marathi manoos agenda of the Shiv Sena and the MNS.

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"The Congress will never indulge in flexing muscles or street fights. But we can, and plan to respond in the same language the Sena and MNS use, to promote a fear-free environment,'' said a city NCP leader at a six-hour meeting held by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Monday to review the party's strength in Mumbai.

The NCP's presence in the city has been fairly weak in the past, with party failing to improve its tally of local corporators or legislators in the last two civic and assembly polls.

Pawar has now asked city chief and lone party MP from Mumbai, Sanjay Patil, to ensure that all city-level posts across assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies are appointed by March 10 this year. The party has also decided to get more vocal on civic issues to present an alternative to the two Senas, which have large vote banks in the city.