The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which are in alliance with the Democratic Front (DF) government, find themselves competing against each other in the new membership drive across Maharashtra.
As against the NCP’s target of five lakh members, the Congress has set a tall order of including 48 lakh new members. Interestingly, the Congress leadership has drawn a list of potential NCP leaders across 33 districts who could be lured to join the Congress.
Chief minister Ashok Chavan has decided to take time off his administrative duties to devote time for party activities. He said, “I am primarily a Congress worker. It is my duty to ensure the growth of the party.”
According to the internal assessment of the Congress, it has to improve its organisational networking at the grassroot level, mainly in western and northern Maharashtra. Interestingly, western Maharashtra happens to be the NCP stronghold.
“As an independent party, we have every right to work to consolidate ourselves across Maharashtra. The alliances are at work in the government and during the elections,” said Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalwai.
Sensing the Congress’ ambitions, the NCP has already taken serious steps to galvanise its cadre. The state NCP general secretary Gurunath Kulkarni said, “As a party we have chalked out the next five-year plan which focuses on expanding the party across regions.”
The NCP reckons its shortcomings namely in Vidarbh (60 seats) and Mumbai (36 seats).
Along with the membership drive, the MPCC has pledged to clean its own stable. To begin with, the party has decided to prepare the grounds for free and fair organisational elections commencing from the first week of January.
The chairman of the state election authority GS Charak said on Tuesday, “The appointments will not be a thrust from the centre. We would encourage greater participation at the district levels.”
Undertaking the expansion drive, the Congress has distributed 48 lakh forms for enrolment of new members. Fresh member rolls will be finalised by the first week on January.
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