At a meeting held in Mumbai, the top leadership of the party unanimously voiced its desire to contest BMC elections on the party’s own merit.
The Congress has set the stage against alliance with the NCP in the coming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
At a meeting held in Mumbai, the top leadership of the party unanimously voiced its desire to contest BMC elections on the party’s own merit.
The argument was Congress is stronger compared to NCP in all the six parliamentary constituencies which will go a long way in translate into electoral gain. The contest will be for 227 seats with almost four political parties along with allies in fray.
The Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS are the main players. There are also Samajwadi Party and Republican Party of India which are likely to strike an alliance with main players. Currently the Shiv Sena along with BJP is the ruling alliance in BMC. The elections are scheduled for early 2012.
AICC secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash on Thursday held meetings with state and city leaders to ascertain their views on alliances for the local bodies and municipal elections.
Highly-placed sources present at the meeting revealed, “Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, union minister Gurudas Kamat along with others indicated that Congress should prepare for contesting the BMC elections alone as that is the mood within the NCP.”
At the meeting Kamat said, “If NCP is ready to contest alone as reported in some sections then Congress should start the preparations for fielding candidates in all the seats. In any case the Congress is stronger in Mumbai compared to NCP. Both Chavan and Prakash also decided to positively consider the suggestions.”
A senior Congress Mumbai leader said, “In Mumbai since we have our stronger alliance with NCP, it restricts our electoral growth. Whereas Congress votes work to NCP’s advantage which strengthens their organisation.”
Of the total 227 seats the NCP will demand at least 113 seats if the alliance were struck. Which means the Congress will be left with just 114 seats.” Another point raised at the meeting was if the government passes the 50% reservation for women in local bodies in the ongoing budget session then it will have to strictly implement in the BMC election.
A senior Congress MLA said, “We are not worried about division of secular votes as NCP is weak in Mumbai.” The Congress ministers also indicated that party’s growth cannot happen unless it contests all 227 seats. The workers will feel motivated if we take the challenge of going alone in corporation polls.
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