What's up with this couple?
The tussle between Congress and NCP over seat-sharing for the state assembly elections has started. Congress on Thursday refused to meet NCP's demands of giving 144 seats. As a result, both parties are preparing to go alone in state polls.
Rumblings from within Congress
Party sources said the 15-year-old marriage of the alliance partners is on the rocks. "Either can easily walk out if its demands are not met. Congress has already asked all its 288 assembly segment leaders in state to submit a list of aspirants and capable candidates for state polls. It has also asked its cadre to prepare and be ready to go alone in state polls this time. Because of the alliance, we are destroying our several decade-old party workers' base. In most of places, due to the alliance, we could not field our party candidates for the last 15 years. We want to use the Jammu-Kashmir formula in Maharashtra as well," said a senior Congress leader.
Another Congress leader told dna the party is fighting for its existence. "If we fail to review the cadre base this time, we may lose them permanently. We have to take the going solo decision for the larger and longer benefit of the party. Presently, there is anti-incumbency against the sitting MLAs irrespective of his party. If we field our candidate where there's NCP MLA, people may vote for Congress. By doing this, we are not going to lose anything. If we get enough number of seats, we can form the government. If there is shortfall, NCP's help can be taken. As a part of our strategy, we are also having region-wise meetings," he said.
Leaderspeak
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Thursday said they had coordination committee meeting on Wednesday where they decided to fight together to defeat the communal parties in state polls. "Lok Sabha polls were won (by BJP) on the basis of false propaganda. In the last one month, people have realised they were cheated and the given promises unfulfilled. NCP has demanded more seats this time. However, we will respect each other and come out with a compromise," Chavan said.
Manikrao Thakre, president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee said NCP demands more seats ahead of every election. "We will stick with the 2009 formula. We are not going to change it. We will discuss all issues in Mumbai and final decisions will be taken by our respective senior party leaders," Thakre said.
NCP puts its foot down
On the other hand, deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has reiterated that NCP has to get 144 seats as against the 117 they got in 2009. "If our demand is not fulfilled, we won't have alliance with Congress. NCP will fight alone," he said.
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