Rahul Gandhi for absolute majority to steer clear of coalition woes

Stating that the Congress is “handicap” in Navi Mumbai as it does not have a single assembly seat, party leaders from satellite city, who met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Pune on Wednesday, pitched for contesting on one seat in the coming elections. They also demanded snapping of political ties with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) at all levels.

“There was a general sentiment among all those gathered to meet Gandhi that the Congress should snap ties with NCP and contest elections on its own strength. As far as Navi Mumbai is concerned, we have informed him that we are do not have much say in the satellite city since we are not holding any assembly seat. Both the seats are with the NCP. How can we help the party grow in a situation like this?” said Dashrath Bhagat, Navi Mumbai district Congress chief, who led the delegation to apprise Gandhi of the ground-level political scenario ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress members and corporators demanded that the party should demand one assembly seat in the satellite city from the NCP. Both the assembly seats in Navi Mumbai — Airoli and Belapur are with the NCP. While Sandeep Naik is MLA from Airoli seat; guardian minister Ganesh Naik has been elected from the Belapur seat.

The delegation apprised Gandhi of local issues as well. The Congress vice-president visited Maharashtra for interaction with district-level leaders and workers to gauge the ground level politics ahead of the elections. “We have demanded one seat for Congress for the forthcoming assembly elections. We have been making similar demand to the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), which has been responding positively to our demand. And we have apprised Gandhi on the need for contesting one assembly seat in the satellite city,” Bhagat added. Gandhi had allotted a particular time to the Congress leaders from Navi Mumbai to raise their issues. “There is no use of forging alliance with the NCP; Congress must contest the elections on its own strength,” said a Congress leader who was part of the delegation that met Gandhi.

However, Gandhi seems to have told the delegation that the Congress will need NCP at least at the Centre. “If you [referring to Congress workers] can help us get absolute majority, we will not need any political party’s support and can form government on our own strength,” Gandhi told the members.

Besides, apprising Gandhi of the political scenario, the city Congress members also informed him of various issues such as extra floor space index, problems faced by project affected persons, providing basic facilities to slum dwellers on MIDC land, increasing the frequency of Harbour line trains, starting more ladies specials, maintaining proper security on local trains and platforms, starting reservation counters at Airoli and Nerul stations for outstation trains.

Gandhi assured the members that he will work out a solution for all these issues after having a word with the MPCC and the state government. Earlier, MPCC president Manikrao Thakre, too, had seconded the demand made by city Congress, saying, since the party does not have any MP or MLA from this area, it is difficult for the party workers and leaders to function in Navi Mumbai.

Demands of City Congress
The delegation of Congress members from Navi Mumbai demanded that the party must snap political ties with the NCP at all levels.

Besides, apprising Gandhi of the political scenario, they also  informed Rahul Gandhi of various issues such as extra floor space index, problems faced by project affected persons, providing basic facilities to slum dwellers on MIDC land, increasing the frequency of Harbour line trains, starting more ladies specials, maintaining proper security on local trains and platforms, starting reservation counters at Airoli and Nerul stations for outstation trains.