Maharashtra polls: Time all parties went solo, says NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal

With political alliances in the state unable to come to an understanding over seat-sharing, it's time all parties contested assembly polls on their own, senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal said on Friday.

The 66-year-old Bhujbal said all political outfits claimed they were now stronger than last time and wanted to contest more seats. "I feel all political parties should contest the polls independently to verify their actual strength. It's time for a reality check," said Bhujbal.

Asked whether NCP also would go it alone, Bhujbal said his party was "prepared to go solo" as well as ready to tie up with Congress. We are ready to take any one of these decisions. Our seat-sharing is not dependent on the seat-sharing decision of Sena-BJP. We have already submitted our proposal to the Congress. It's now for that party to respond. If they do not respond in time, we may execute plan-B," Bhujbal said.

Jansuraj party legislator Mukti Mohmad Ismail Sayed from Malegaon joined NCP with his supporters in the presence of state chief Sunil Tatkare on Friday. YN Maniyar, the Muslim OBC leader, and Malegaon Vikar Aghadi president Sunil Gaikawad along with their supporters were also inducted into the party.

Sources in the party said many more sitting independent and Congress legislators were in touch with NCP. "Once we decide to go solo, we have a list of 23 Congress legislators who want to join NCP. In the list there are many leaders from the chief minister's home town too. Many leaders from Vidarbha are also in touch with us. We will reveal the names at an appropriate time," they said.

"Very soon we will hold a mega rally in Malegaon where 24 corporators are likely join NCP. People are posing faith in NCP as it's a strong secular party," said Sunil Tatkare.

Sources said by inducting Muslim leaders, NCP had been strengthening its secular base.

"It can give Congress too a tough time. NCP wants to emerge the main secular force in Maharashtra. If it goes solo in assembly polls, the votes of secular elements and the Maratha community would be enough to get it elected with a comfortable margin," said a political observer.

Meanwhile, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan reiterated that Congress would contest in all 288 seats if NCP did not compromise. "We cannot meet NCP's 50:50 seat-sharing demand. In an alliance, the candidate of an ally should be respected and all allies must work/vote sincerely for him/her. Otherwise, rather than helping our candidates, NCP cadre would be busy trying to defeat our candidates. This has happened in many elections. We are therefore cautious now," Chavan had said recently in Aurangabad.

Responding to CM's statement, Tatkare said Congress activists too had done similar things. "We also have many examples to show how Congress had helped opposition candidates defeat our (official) nominees," said Tatkare.