Pawar reviews NCP's position in Maha ahead of assembly polls

Union agriculture minister and NCP president Sharad Pawar met close aides from North Maharashtra and Vidarbha today to review the political situation and assess party's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the assembly elections slated to be held later this year.     

Yesterday, Pawar held discussions with senior leaders and office bearers from Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur districts in Western Maharashtra, which is politically significant for the NCP.
    
Party sources said the district units have been entrusted with the task of resolving the factional feuds in the respective districts.

In the recent Lok Sabha election, the party lost Shirur, Maval, Kolhapur and Hatkanangle constituencies. In 2004 assembly elections, NCP won 18 seats in the four districts of Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur.
    
Sources said discussions also revolved around how many seats the party can comfortably win and the probable candidates.

In 2004, NCP contested 122 assembly seats out of the total 288. This time, the party is expecting the retain the number or get additional two to three seats.