NCP slams Patangrao Kadam, says he is not senior enough to advise Sharad Pawar

Hardening its stance against the Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday slammed Dr Patangrao Kadam over his statement suggesting that NCP president Sharad Pawar should merge his party with the Congress.

Taking a dig at Kadam, NCP state President Sunil Tatkare said that no one takes him seriously in the Congress. “Patangrao Kadam is not that senior to advice NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Rather than giving suggestions, he should concentrate on strengthening the Congress party," Tatkare said. 

He further added, “Patangrao Kadam has a good sense of humour, but I have not seen anyone taking him seriously in the Congress party."

Earlier, in November 2011, Kadam had suggested that the merger of the NCP with the Congress was inevitable in the future.

Patangrao Kadam is not that senior to advice @PawarSpeaks. He better concentrate on strengthening  #Congress party (1/3)

— Sunil Tatkare (@SunilTatkare) September 11, 2014

Instead of giving free advices, he better pay attention to bring secular #government (3/3)

— Sunil Tatkare (@SunilTatkare) September 11, 2014

Speaking to the media, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The decision about seat sharing will be declared in the next couple of days.NCP-Congress will begin collective campaigning after the official declaration of alliance." 

While 4 independent candidates on Wednesday joined Congress, Tatkare said, “The ceremony of independent MLAs arriving in NCP will be organised shortly." 

Nawab Malik also declared that the Kharat group of RPI will contest the Vidhan Sabha election with NCP. He said, “The group has decided to ally with NCP unconditionally.

NCP will be holding its first public meeting for the Vidhan Sabha election campaigning  on September 16 in Kolhapur.