NCP leader Ajit Pawar's meeting with MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday triggered speculation that the regional party may join the Congress-NCP alliance in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar's meeting with MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday triggered speculation that the regional party may join the Congress-NCP alliance in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
On Tuesday, Pawar had advocated a tie-up with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the Lok Sabha elections.
After a meeting which lasted for about one and a half hours, Pawar said the decision on alliance with the MNS would be taken by the "senior leadership" of the NCP and Congress.
The meeting between Pawar and the MNS chief, who have in the past engaged in verbal sparring, took place in Dadar in central Mumbai.
Ajit Pawar had Tuesday pitched for an alliance with the MNS to ensure there is no division of votes as opposition parties take on the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena combine.
He said on Wednesday that he met Raj Thackeray as he wanted all anti-BJP parties to come together.
However, he was quick to add that the decision on alliance with the MNS will be taken by the senior leadership of the Congress and NCP.
The issue of forging alliance with the MNS would be discussed at the meeting of NCP leaders Thursday, Pawar said. According to sources in the NCP, the party is willing to leave the Kalyan seat from its quota for the MNS.
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar held a party meeting in Mumbai on Thursday.
A Congress leader said on the condition of anonymity that there were differences over inclusion of MNS in the alliance between the Congress and NCP.
"Though the party (MNS) has tried to make amends (for its past anti-migrant stand) by organising gatherings of the North Indian community, there are misgivings," he said.
The Congress and NCP are at present busy stitching together a coalition of opposition parties in Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh's 80.
(With PTI inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ajit Pawar and Raj Thackeray")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}