Ministers want NCP ticket for New York

The Nationalist Congress Party’s decision to hold a two-day conclave (Sept 3 and 4) in New York has enthused its rank and file. The party has been bombarded with requests from across state — they all want to join the delegation.

A senior office-bearer at the NCP headquarters in Nariman Point said, “What’s interesting is that even ministers are sending in their requests!” The decision to hold the conclave in New York was taken last year on the recommendation of an NRI, Raj Sharma.

He said NRIs living in America know mainstream political parties like the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, but they are clueless about the role of the NCP. The party then decided to make its presence felt in the US.

As a minister said, “We may not contest elections there but can always have our supporters. They can play a significant role in financing, as well as influencing people in our favour.” The list of ministers visiting Big Apple runs longs. It includes state party chief Madhukar Picchad, deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal, food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh, finance minister Sunil Tatkare, water resources minister Ajit Pawar and Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel, among others.

Deshmukh’s griha pravesh and Munde’s house hunt
Union heavy industries minister Vilasrao Deshmukh held a griha pravesh at his 14 Akbar Road bungalow in New Delhi last week. Despite taking charge in 2009, he had to wait for long as it was occupied by senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar. Weary of house-hunting, Deshmukh decided to take whatever was available. However, BJP’s Gopinath Munde is not so lucky.

He is still searching for that sprawling house in Delhi. A former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Munde admits he is “not used to networking to get a house of my choice”, adding he “wants a decent house which is spacious”. Presently, Munde is managing his work and stay from a single room in Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi. Wonder why BJP president Nitin Gadkari has not lent a helping hand?

Thakre’s handshake with Deshmukh, Rane
There’s a lot of action taking place in the run-up to the elections for the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, to be held in September. Current MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre is trying to win over rivals by extending a hand to Vilasrao Deshmukh and state revenue minister Narayan Rane. Chief minister Ashok Chavan, who was not on great terms with Thakre, appears to have changed his mind. He seems to have realised that he’d rather have mild-mannered Thakre than someone more aggressive from the Deshmukh camp. There was no conflict between the organisation and the government under Thakre’s tenure, thus making it easier for Chavan to retain his hold in administration as well as party politics. But it is Sonia Gandhi who will take the final call. Not leaving anything to chance, the Thakre has already declared long-term programmes for the party. Is he taking his MPCC chief role for granted or merely living in hope?